Link Aggregation Group Port Prioritization Synchronization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing link aggregation technologies face challenges in supporting operator commands across nodes in a Link Aggregation Group (LAG), particularly in maintaining frame ordering and synchronizing prioritized port lists between master and slave nodes, which is crucial for efficient network maintenance and operation.
Innovation Solution
The method involves determining the role of a node within the LAG, either master or slave, and synchronizing the aggregation port prioritized lists by comparing digests of the local and remote lists, with the master node transmitting necessary operator command attributes to ensure consistent prioritization across the network, and the slave node updating its lists accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If operator commands are implemented in link aggregation group, then network maintenance capability is improved, but frame ordering and synchronization between master and slave nodes becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the master node transmits operator command attributes to slave nodes, and slave nodes send acknowledgments back to the master node. This feedback loop ensures that frame ordering is maintained and synchronization is achieved across all nodes in the LAG, resolving the complexity issue while enabling network maintenance capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the operator command implementation into distinct roles: master nodes handle command distribution and slave nodes handle local execution. This segmentation allows each node to focus on specific tasks, simplifying the overall complexity of maintaining frame ordering and synchronization across the distributed system.
2Reliability
If aggregation port prioritized lists are synchronized, then operator command execution consistency is improved, but comparison and transmission of list digests increases protocol complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses digest copies of the aggregation port prioritized lists instead of transmitting the complete lists. The master node transmits only the digest attributes to slave nodes, and compares digests to determine synchronization status. This copying approach maintains execution consistency while reducing the amount of data transmitted and processed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter from transmitting complete prioritized lists to transmitting and comparing list digests. This parameter change reduces protocol complexity by working with smaller, more manageable data structures while maintaining the reliability of consistent command execution through digest comparison.
3Stability of the object's composition
If master node transmits operator command attributes to slave node, then prioritization consistency across LAG is improved, but additional transmission and processing requirements increase system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the operator command transmission function with the existing LAG protocol communication mechanisms. The master node transmits operator command attributes through the same protocol infrastructure used for normal LAG operation, combining multiple functions into a single communication path and reducing additional transmission and processing requirements.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A method is disclosed that is to be executed for supporting operator commands in a link aggregation group at a network device. The method starts with receiving a local operator command for changing aggregation port priority of the link aggregation group, where the local operator command contains operator command attributes including an operator command aggregation port prioritized list. The method continues with determining that the operator command aggregation port prioritized list is different from a remote aggregation port prioritized list used at the remote network device. The network device then transmits a set of operator command attributes associated with the local operator command to the remote network device and performs the local operator command by setting a local aggregation port prioritized list to be consistent with the operator command aggregation port prioritized list for the link aggregation group.