Link Aggregation Group Synchronization Ports for Virtual Machine Traffic
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Solution Overview
Problem
In virtualized datacenter environments, load balancing across virtual machines within a single link aggregation group is inefficient due to the reliance on a virtual load balancer, which acts as a choke point for network throughput, and managing traffic between host devices sharing link aggregation groups is complicated by the need to avoid using the same link aggregation group for both transmission and reception of packets.
Innovation Solution
Configuring a link aggregation group (LAG) across multiple host devices and utilizing separate synchronization ports not part of the shared LAG for traffic management between virtual machines, allowing the switch to perform load balancing and ensuring that packets destined for different host devices are routed appropriately, thereby reducing the reliance on the virtual load balancer and enhancing network efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a virtual load balancer is implemented by a virtual machine, then load balancing can be performed among virtual machines, but the virtual load balancer becomes a choke point that reduces network throughput
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the load balancing function from the virtual machine environment and implements it at the physical switch level using hardware-based load balancing algorithms. This removes the virtual load balancer VM from the traffic path, eliminating it as a choke point while preserving load balancing capabilities among VMs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a synchronization port as an intermediary component that enables direct communication between host devices sharing a LAG. This intermediary allows traffic to be load balanced at the physical level without requiring packets to traverse through the virtual load balancer, thus maintaining throughput while achieving load distribution.
2Quantity of substance
If host devices share a link aggregation group for traffic management, then bandwidth is increased, but managing traffic between host devices becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments traffic management into two distinct paths: (1) traffic between different host devices shares the LAG for increased bandwidth, while (2) traffic between VMs on the same host device or between host devices uses dedicated synchronization ports. This segmentation simplifies traffic management by providing clear rules for when to use each path.
Solution Approach 2:
The synchronization port acts as an intermediary that simplifies traffic management between host devices sharing a LAG. It provides a dedicated control path that eliminates the complexity of managing traffic over the shared LAG, allowing host devices to communicate efficiently while maintaining simple management rules.
Data Source
AI summary
Exemplary methods, apparatuses, and systems configure a first set of ports of a first host device and a second set of ports to be included within a first link aggregation group (LAG). The first and second host devices further configure, respectively, a first synchronization port that does not share a common LAG with the second host device and a second synchronization port that does not share a common LAG with the first host device. The first host device receives a first packet destined for a virtual machine running on the second host device, the first packet including source and destination information. The first host device determines from the source or destination information that the first packet is destined for a virtual machine running on another host device. In response, the first host device forwards the packet via the first synchronization port to the second host device.