Automated Aggregation Group Creation for IRF Network Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manual creation and management of aggregation groups between Controlling Bridge (CB) devices and Port Extender (PE) devices in IRF technology is labor-intensive, especially when a CB device is connected to a large number of PE devices, affecting link stability.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for automatically creating aggregation groups by analyzing LLDP packets to identify PE devices, querying an array table for unique identifiers, and assigning idle aggregation group identifiers and PE numbers, reducing the need for manual user intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual creation and management of aggregation groups is performed, then user control and precision are improved, but workload and time consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by allowing PE devices to automatically register themselves with the CB device. When a PE device connects, it sends an LLDP packet containing its unique identifier, and the CB device automatically creates the aggregation group and adds the port without requiring manual user intervention. This resolves the contradiction by eliminating the time-consuming manual operations while maintaining system control through automated processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-configuring the CB device with an array table containing idle aggregation group identifiers and PE numbers. Before actual device connection, the system prepares all necessary resources and configurations, allowing immediate automatic assignment when a PE device connects. This eliminates the need for manual configuration during device deployment.
2Manufacturing precision
If manual aggregation group creation is performed, then configuration accuracy is improved, but productivity and deployment speed decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback mechanisms where the CB device receives LLDP packets from PE devices containing unique identifiers. The system queries the array table to check for existing associations, and based on the feedback from this query, automatically determines whether to create a new aggregation group or add the port to an existing one. This automated feedback loop ensures configuration accuracy matches manual processes while achieving high deployment speed.
3Productivity
If automatic creation of aggregation groups is implemented, then productivity and deployment speed are improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary array table that stores the correspondence between aggregation group identifiers, PE unique identifiers, and PE numbers. This intermediary data structure simplifies the automatic creation process by providing a centralized repository for configuration data, making the system easier to manage despite the automated complexity. The array table acts as a mediator between the LLDP packet reception and the aggregation group creation processes.
4Reliability
If multiple links are established for aggregation, then link stability is improved, but the number of aggregation groups and management complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple ports connected to the same PE device into a single aggregation group. When the CB device receives LLDP packets from different ports of the same PE device, it queries the array table and automatically adds all ports to the same aggregation group identified by the PE's unique identifier. This merging approach maintains link stability through multiple paths while simplifying management by grouping related ports together under a single aggregation group.
Data Source
AI summary
When a CB device receives through a first port a packet sent from a PE device, the CB device analyzes a unique identifier of the PE device from the packet. If the first port is not included in any of aggregation groups, an array table is queried. If the unique identifier of the PE device does not exist in the array table, an idle first aggregation group identifier is selected, a first aggregation group corresponding to the first aggregation group identifier is created, the first port is added to the first aggregation group, and a correspondence between the first aggregation group identifier and the unique identifier of the PE device is recorded in the array table.