Interface Bundles Across Virtual Network Sub-units
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current link bundling techniques in networking are limited as they require all ports in an EtherChannel port bundle to be within the same network device, restricting their use in situations where redundancy across multiple virtual network devices is desired.
Innovation Solution
Implementing interface bundles across multiple virtual network device sub-units, where communication links are managed as a single logical link, allowing packets to be sent through one or more sub-units, and maintaining consistent forwarding information to prioritize local interfaces within the virtual network device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If link bundling techniques are used to manage redundant links as a single logical path, then management complexity is reduced, but the technique cannot be applied when ports are in different network devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides a network device into multiple virtual network device sub-units, each capable of independently participating in link bundles. This segmentation allows the link bundling functionality to be distributed across multiple physical or virtual devices while maintaining the simplified management benefits of treating links as a single logical path.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal interface bundle structure that can operate across different network device sub-units. The interface bundle becomes a multi-functional construct that works both within a single device and across distributed sub-units, enabling the same link bundling management approach to be universally applied regardless of physical location.
2Productivity
If multiple redundant links are active simultaneously to increase bandwidth, then network capacity is improved, but management complexity increases due to bridging loop concerns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple physical links into a single interface bundle that is managed as one logical entity. This combining allows multiple links to remain active for increased bandwidth while the bundle abstraction handles loop prevention and link management automatically, eliminating the complexity that would otherwise arise from managing each link individually.
3Ease of operation
If all ports in an EtherChannel bundle must be in the same network device, then management is simplified, but the solution becomes restrictive and cannot meet distributed networking needs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the interface bundle concept from a single-device dimension to a multi-device dimension. By allowing interface bundles to span across multiple virtual network device sub-units, the solution adds a new dimension of distribution while maintaining the simplified management characteristics of traditional link bundling through logical abstraction.
Data Source
AI summary
A virtual network device includes several different virtual network device sub-units, which collectively operate as a single logical network device. An interface bundle includes interfaces in more than one of the different virtual network device sub-units included in the virtual network device. The interface bundle is coupled to a virtual link bundle, which connects the virtual network device to another device. The interface bundle is managed as a single logical interface.