HA Middleware IP Failover via Dynamic Probing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional network and storage systems in cloud computing architectures face performance and administrative bottlenecks, particularly in achieving high availability and low fail-over times without increasing complexity.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that implement highly available Internet Protocol (IP) based communication across multiple independent paths using dynamic IP address binding, IP routing techniques, and ping-type probing schemes, allowing for fail-over operations above the IP layer and reducing fail-over times while maintaining simplicity and robustness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional network and storage systems are used in cloud computing architectures, then system simplicity is maintained, but performance bottlenecks and high fail-over times occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary probing actions using ping-type operations to detect communication path failures before they impact application-level communication. By continuously monitoring path availability at the network layer, the system can preemptively switch to alternative paths, reducing fail-over time and improving communication performance without adding significant complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary probing mechanism that operates between the network layer and application layer. This intermediary layer monitors communication path health independently and triggers fail-over operations when degradation is detected, allowing the system to maintain high performance while avoiding the complexity of fully redundant architectures
2Reliability
If multiple independent communication paths with dynamic IP binding are implemented, then fail-over capability is improved, but implementation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements multi-functionality by using a single probing infrastructure that serves multiple communication paths simultaneously. The ping-type probing mechanism can monitor multiple IP addresses and network interfaces through a unified approach, allowing the system to achieve high availability across multiple paths without proportionally increasing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention dynamically changes network parameters such as IP address binding and interface selection based on detected path availability. By modifying these parameters in response to probing results, the system achieves reliable fail-over capability while keeping the underlying architecture relatively simple and adaptable
3Loss of time
If probing operations are performed to detect communication failures, then fail-over detection speed is improved, but system overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic probing operations at strategically chosen intervals to detect communication failures. By spacing probing actions appropriately, the system achieves timely failure detection while minimizing the overhead associated with continuous monitoring. The periodic nature of the probing allows the system to balance detection speed with resource consumption
Data Source
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AI summary
A system and method can implement highly available Internet Protocol (IP) based communication across multiple independent communication paths. The system can have different IP addresses associated with different interfaces and communication paths and can implement communication fail-over as part of the communication layers above the IP layer, e.g. at the application level. The system can provide a balance between an average fail-over time and implementation complexity, and can achieve simplicity and robustness while providing high communication performance.