Interleaving Members for Network Traffic Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ensuring proportionate distribution of network traffic across member links in a link aggregation group (LAG) is complex due to varying link capacities and priorities, leading to inefficient distribution, decreased bandwidth, and increased latency.
Innovation Solution
A network device determines weight values based on link capacities and priorities, generates multiplier tables, and creates an allocation table to configure a resolution table that interleaves entries, ensuring proportionate distribution of network traffic across member links.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If network traffic is distributed across member links using traditional methods, then bandwidth is increased, but traffic distribution becomes uneven causing some links to be underutilized (starvation)
Solution Approach 1:
The resolution table is segmented into multiple tables (first resolution table, second resolution table, etc.), each containing a portion of the total entries. This segmentation allows different traffic types or priorities to be distributed to different member links systematically, ensuring uniform utilization across all links while maintaining high overall bandwidth usage.
2Productivity
If link aggregation is configured to balance traffic, then bandwidth is increased, but the complexity of configuring and managing the aggregation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network device automatically generates the resolution table entries and distributes them across member links without requiring manual configuration. The system self-manages the aggregation by dynamically creating the necessary table structures and populating them with appropriate entries based on traffic requirements, thereby reducing configuration complexity while maintaining high bandwidth utilization.
3Productivity
If traditional load balancing is used across member links, then bandwidth is increased, but latency increases due to inefficient traffic routing
Solution Approach 1:
The resolution table is pre-configured with optimized entry distributions that anticipate traffic patterns and pre-determine the best member link for each traffic type. This preliminary arrangement of table entries ensures that traffic is routed through the most efficient path from the outset, reducing unnecessary routing delays and latency while maintaining high bandwidth utilization across the aggregated links.
Data Source
AI summary
A network device may receive information associated with a set of member links of the network device. The network device may determine a set of weight values, for the set of member links, based on the information associated with the set of member links. The network device may determine a set of multiplier values, for the set of member links, based on the set of weight values. The network device may generate a set of multiplier tables, for the set of member links, based on the set of multiplier values. The network device may generate an allocation table based on the set of multiplier tables. The network device may generate a resolution table based on the allocation table. The network device may provide, to another network device, network traffic via the set of member links based on the resolution table.