Intelligent Linecard Packet Sampling for Data Plane Redundancy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing data plane redundancy systems in network devices require the standby data plane to handle all incoming traffic, leading to increased power consumption and cooling requirements, as they replicate all traffic to maintain synchronization and quick failure handling.

Innovation Solution

Implement an intelligent linecard that classifies packets into high-priority control packets and low-priority data packets, transmitting control packets to both active and standby data planes and sampling data packets at a configured rate to reduce traffic load on the standby data plane.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If all incoming traffic is replicated to the standby data plane to maintain synchronization, then the standby data plane can quickly take over in case of failure, but power consumption and cooling requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata plane redundancyVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by selectively replicating only essential control packets to the standby data plane instead of all traffic. The system classifies packets and replicates only those necessary for maintaining synchronization and enabling quick failover, thereby reducing the standby plane's processing load and power consumption while preserving redundancy capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments traffic into different categories (control packets requiring replication vs. other traffic). By dividing the traffic stream and applying different handling strategies to different segments, the system maintains necessary synchronization for failover while avoiding unnecessary processing of non-critical traffic on the standby data plane

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If all incoming traffic is replicated to the standby data plane, then the standby data plane remains synchronized, but cooling requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata plane synchronizationVSAvoidcooling requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies partial action by replicating only the necessary portion of traffic (control packets) to maintain synchronization, rather than all traffic. This reduces the thermal load on the standby data plane while preserving its ability to take over in case of failure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

Traffic is segmented into control packets that require replication for synchronization and other packets that do not. This segmentation allows the standby plane to remain synchronized with essential control information while generating less heat

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If the standby data plane handles all incoming traffic, then quick failure handling is enabled, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefailure handling capabilityVSAvoidtraffic handling complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces packet classification and selective replication mechanisms that segment traffic handling logic. The system identifies control packets requiring replication and routes them appropriately, while other traffic follows standard paths. This structured approach manages complexity through organized classification rather than uniform handling of all traffic

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20250358203A1Data plane redundancy management with intelligent linecard

Publication Date: 2025.11.20 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

Devices, systems, methods, and processes for data plane redundancy management in network devices are described herein. A linecard in a network device may classify a plurality of packets into a first category or a second category based on whether a packet is a control packet or a data packet. The linecard may transmit all control packets and data packets to an active data plane. The linecard may selectively transmit the control packets and a sampled subset of the data packets to a standby data plane. Thus, the standby data plane is equipped with dynamic information of network using the control packets and Media Access Control addresses using the sampled subset of the data packets. When a failure is detected in the active data plane, the linecard starts transmitting all the data packets also to the standby data plane and starts accepting processed packets from the standby data plane for forwarding.