InterCloud Architecture for Home Network Scalability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current networking technologies, such as VXLAN, struggle to scale effectively to address the increasing complexity and performance requirements of single Internet Protocol (IP) subnet home networks, which are becoming multi-segment, multi-provider, or multi-service networks, due to the large number of broadband and smart home users.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of enhanced packet encapsulation methods and label-based routing, including the use of a 24-bit Virtual Domain Identifier (VDID) and Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) labels, to enable efficient communication between multiple home clouds and application service provider environments, forming an InterCloud architecture that supports scalability and performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If enhanced packet encapsulation with 24-bit VDID and MPLS labels is implemented, then network segment scalability is extended and routing efficiency is improved, but device complexity and implementation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The network architecture is segmented into multiple hierarchical layers including home clouds, regional clouds, and data center clouds. Each layer is assigned a specific portion of the 24-bit VDID space, enabling independent scaling and management of network segments at different levels without affecting the entire network structure.
Solution Approach 2:
MPLS labels serve as intermediaries between the encapsulated packets and the routing infrastructure. The labels translate the 24-bit VDID into a format suitable for efficient label-based routing, reducing the burden on network devices while maintaining extended scalability.
2Quantity of substance
If the number of home networks is multiplied and made accessible from the Internet, then network capacity and service accessibility are improved, but the complexity of managing multi-segment networks increases
Solution Approach 1:
The large number of home networks is organized into hierarchical segments: individual home clouds, regional clouds grouping multiple homes, and data center clouds. This segmentation allows each management level to handle only its local segment, reducing overall management complexity while supporting exponential growth in the number of connected networks.
Solution Approach 2:
The network organization transitions from a flat two-dimensional structure to a three-dimensional hierarchical structure with layers of home clouds, regional clouds, and data centers. This dimensional change enables scalable management by distributing control across multiple levels rather than requiring centralized management of all networks.
3Productivity
If label-based routing is implemented to reduce lookups, then routing performance is improved, but the complexity of packet processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
MPLS labels are pushed onto packets in advance at the ingress point, encoding routing information that will be needed throughout the network path. This preliminary action eliminates the need for repeated lookups at intermediate routers, as they can simply perform label switching based on the pre-encoded information.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of storing and processing full routing tables at each device, the essential routing information is copied into compact MPLS labels. These labels serve as simplified replicas of the routing decisions, enabling fast switching without requiring devices to maintain complex routing state.
Data Source
AI summary
A first customer edge network device receives an encapsulated packet that includes inner headers comprising source address information for a first service running on a first computing apparatus in a first home cloud and destination address information for a second service running on a second computing apparatus in a second home cloud. The customer edge network device inserts a predetermined portion of bits of a virtual domain identifier of the encapsulated packet into a label to form a virtual domain label for label-based routing. The virtual domain label is appended to the encapsulated packet. The encapsulated packet is sent to a first provider edge network device of a provider network. The first provider edge network device appends an virtual private network label to the encapsulated packet, and sends the encapsulated packet to a provider network device for label-based routing in the provider network.