Distributed IPsec Gateway Control-Data Split for Tenant Load Balancing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cloud network systems face inefficiencies in resource allocation and utilization due to the isolation of virtual machine resources allocated to each cloud tenant's IPSec gateway, leading to potential waste and suboptimal performance in handling varying traffic demands.
Innovation Solution
A distributed IPSec gateway architecture is introduced, separating the control plane and data plane, where the control plane manages IPSec Security Associations and steers traffic across multiple gateway processing nodes in the data plane, optimizing resource allocation and utilization through dynamic load balancing and tunnel migration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If virtual machine resources are isolated and allocated to each cloud tenant's IPSec gateway, then security and tenant isolation are improved, but resource utilization and system efficiency deteriorate due to potential waste and inability to handle varying traffic demands
Solution Approach 1:
The IPSec gateway functionality is segmented into two independent planes: control plane (handling IKE information interaction and security association management) and data plane (handling ESP/AH traffic forwarding). This segmentation allows different tenants' control plane instances to share underlying virtual machine resources while maintaining logical isolation, thereby improving resource utilization without compromising security.
Solution Approach 2:
The control plane is designed to be universal and can serve multiple cloud tenants simultaneously through a single shared instance. The control plane manages security associations and steers traffic for multiple tenants, eliminating the need for separate isolated gateway instances for each tenant and thus improving overall resource utilization while maintaining tenant-specific security policies.
2Reliability
If dedicated IPSec gateway instances are provided for each cloud tenant, then security and isolation are improved, but resource waste occurs due to fixed allocation that cannot adapt to varying traffic demands
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic resource allocation where the control plane can adaptively adjust traffic steering rules based on real-time traffic demands. Virtual machine resources are dynamically allocated to handle varying traffic loads across different tenants, allowing the system to respond to changing conditions without wasting resources on over-provisioned static allocations.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple tenants' control plane functions are merged into a single shared control plane instance that manages security associations and traffic steering for all tenants. This consolidation eliminates redundant resource allocations while maintaining security isolation through logical separation of tenant traffic flows and security policies.
3Adaptability or versatility
If control plane and data plane are separated with multiple gateway processing nodes, then resource allocation flexibility and load balancing are improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway architecture is segmented into control plane nodes that handle security association management and data plane gateway processing nodes that handle traffic forwarding. This segmentation allows independent scaling and optimization of each plane, improving adaptability and load balancing capability while managing complexity through clear separation of concerns.
Solution Approach 2:
The control plane acts as an intermediary between the cloud tenant and the distributed data plane gateway processing nodes. It manages security associations, makes routing decisions, and steers traffic to appropriate gateway nodes, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture by centralizing control functions while enabling distributed data plane processing.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides technical solutions related to distributed IPSec gateway. A control plane and a data plane of the IPSec gateway are divided, a plurality of gateway processing nodes may be run in the data plane to process data packets of incoming ESP/AH traffic and/or data packets of outgoing IP traffic. IKE information interaction may be handled in the control plane and the traffic may be steered on each gateway processing node in the data plane.