Link Aggregation Congruency Digest Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
The IEEE 802.1AX link aggregation standard lacks a mechanism to ensure congruent service hand-off across network interfaces, where frames may be transmitted on different physical links in each direction, leading to non-congruent service hand-offs, which can result in misconfigurations and service disruptions.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced to process Link Aggregation Group (LAG) link assignments into digests, which are exchanged between nodes to verify and enforce congruent service hand-offs, ensuring that services requiring congruency are transmitted on the same physical link in both directions by using a Congruency Enforcement Digest and moving services to a default link if mismatched, while non-congruent services are handled separately with a Service Verification Digest.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the IEEE 802.1AX link aggregation standard is used to aggregate multiple links, then throughput is increased and redundancy is provided, but service congruency cannot be ensured as frames may be transmitted on different physical links in each direction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where LAG nodes exchange congruency digests containing service assignment information. Each node compares the received digest with its own service assignment table to detect mismatches. When non-congruent assignments are detected, the system provides feedback to move services to appropriate links, ensuring congruency is maintained while preserving the throughput benefits of link aggregation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If service assignments are allowed to be independent on each side of the LAG, then configuration flexibility is improved, but misconfigurations and service disruptions occur due to non-congruent service hand-offs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having LAG nodes pre-calculate and exchange congruency digests containing their service assignment information before actual service transmission begins. This allows each node to anticipate potential mismatches and proactively adjust service assignments to ensure congruency, maintaining both configuration flexibility and service hand-off consistency.
3Ease of operation
If a VID-to-port mapping proposal is used to select physical links for services, then service assignment capability is improved, but there is no means to enforce or check whether the assignment is the same in both directions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses copying by creating a condensed representation (digest) of each node's service assignment table and exchanging these copies between LAG nodes. Instead of comparing entire complex assignment tables, nodes exchange simplified digest copies containing essential congruency information, reducing the complexity of verification while maintaining the ability to detect and correct non-congruent assignments.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a technique for ensuring that a service or conversation is carried in a congruent manner on a Link Aggregation Group (LAG). The Service ID (e.g., conversation ID) to link mapping is configured on both sides of the LAG independently of each other. The Service ID to link assignment is stored in a well-defined format, e.g. in an assignment table. A digest is then prepared on the assignment table. The digest is exchanged between the two sides of the LAG. If there is a mismatch between the digests, then the service is transmitted on a predefined and agreed-upon default link if congruency has to be enforced for that particular service. Furthermore, the digest exchange allows verification on the configuration to check whether all services to be handed-off are configured on both sides.