Network Hypervisor Statistics Virtualization for SDN Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
In SDN-based network virtualization environments, existing monitoring methods face challenges in accurately monitoring each virtual network, experiencing high delays, and excessive control channel consumption, which limits real-time monitoring and network optimization.
Innovation Solution
A network hypervisor with a statistics virtualization module providing individual statistics to each virtual network, a transmission disaggregation module with a physical statistics cache for reduced delay, and a physical statistics aggregation module to minimize control channel usage, using algorithms for virtual flow entry and port statistics calculation and caching strategies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If periodic monitoring is performed on physical switches to collect statistics, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases due to transmission delays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-establishing statistical information about virtual networks and their corresponding physical switches before actual monitoring occurs. The system maintains pre-computed mapping relationships between virtual flow entries and physical switches, allowing rapid statistics retrieval without time-consuming real-time resolution, thus reducing transmission delay while preserving measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (the statistical information storage and processing module) that acts as a mediator between virtual network monitoring requests and physical switch statistics. This intermediary pre-processes and stores statistical data, enabling fast retrieval and reducing the time delay between monitoring requests and statistics availability.
2Measurement precision
If individual statistics are provided to each virtual network, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the monitoring system into distinct functional modules: a statistical information storage module that maintains virtual network statistics, a transmission disaggregation module that handles individual virtual network requests, and a physical statistics aggregation module that collects physical switch data. This modular segmentation enables precise individual statistics provision while managing system complexity through clear functional separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements multi-functionality by designing the network hypervisor to perform multiple functions: it acts as a virtualization manager, a statistics collector, a data processor, and a communication coordinator. This universal approach reduces overall system complexity by consolidating functions within the hypervisor while still providing precise individual statistics to each virtual network.
3Adaptability or versatility
If monitoring is performed for multiple virtual networks on a single physical network, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the monitoring system into specialized modules that handle different virtual networks independently. The statistical information storage module maintains separate statistics for each virtual network, the transmission disaggregation module processes requests per virtual network, and the physical statistics aggregation module collects data from physical switches. This segmentation enables multi-tenant adaptability while managing complexity through modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the network hypervisor as an intermediary layer that mediates between multiple virtual networks and the physical network infrastructure. This intermediary handles the complexity of mapping virtual networks to physical resources, collecting statistics for multiple tenants, and providing isolated views to each virtual network, thereby enabling adaptability without proportionally increasing visible complexity.
4Measurement precision
If control channel is used for monitoring requests, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of energy increases due to excessive channel consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-collecting and storing statistical information from physical switches before actual monitoring requests occur. The system maintains cached statistical data that can be rapidly retrieved without requiring continuous control channel communication, thereby reducing energy consumption associated with frequent control channel usage while preserving measurement precision through pre-computed statistics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the system to serve its own monitoring needs through internal statistical information storage and processing capabilities. The network hypervisor uses its own computational resources to maintain and retrieve statistics, reducing the need for energy-intensive control channel communications with physical switches for each monitoring request.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a computing apparatus implemented with a network hypervisor implementing software defined network (SDN)-based network virtualization. The computing apparatus include a statistics virtualization module configured to provide individual statistics to each of created virtual networks, a transmission disaggregation module configured to include a physical statistics cache that performs periodic monitoring of a plurality of physical switches and store statistics of the physical switches collected, and a physical statistics aggregation module configured to respond with statistics of the plurality of physical switches when a single monitoring request.