Link Aggregation Digest Comparison for SPBm Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Link Aggregation Protocol (LACP) systems face performance and scalability issues due to the need for extensive comparisons of VLAN Shortest Path Bridging-MAC (SPBm) settings across ports, which can significantly impact system performance, especially in stackable environments.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method that maintains and compares digests of SPBm settings instead of entire configuration strings, allowing for efficient compatibility checks by generating and updating 16-byte digest strings for each port, thereby reducing comparison time and improving aggregation efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional comparison techniques are used to compare entire SPBm configuration strings across ports, then compatibility checking is performed, but system performance and scalability are significantly impacted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential compatibility information from the entire SPBm configuration string by computing a digest (hash value) that represents the configuration. Instead of comparing complete configuration strings, the system compares these extracted digest values, which capture the essential compatibility characteristics while being much smaller in size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the configuration comparison problem by changing the parameter being compared from the entire configuration string to a computed digest value. This parameter transformation maintains the ability to determine compatibility while dramatically reducing the data volume that must be processed during comparison operations.
2Reliability
If entire SPBm configuration strings are compared for each port joining a LAG, then compatibility is determined, but comparison time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-computing the digest value for each port's SPBm configuration and storing it. When a port joins a LAG, the system compares pre-computed digest values rather than computing or comparing entire configuration strings during the join operation, significantly reducing the time required for compatibility determination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a simplified copy (digest) of the configuration data that preserves the essential compatibility information. This digest copy is much smaller than the original configuration string and can be compared rapidly, while still providing accurate compatibility determination when the digests match.
3Reliability
If detailed SPBm configuration comparisons are performed, then configuration consistency is verified, but computational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential consistency verification capability from the detailed configuration comparison by using digest values. The digest captures the necessary information to verify configuration consistency across ports while eliminating the computational complexity of comparing complete configuration strings with hundreds of ISID-VLAN ID pairs.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems and computer readable media for link aggregation using digests are described. In some implementations, the method can include obtaining information about each port in a group of one or more ports. The method can also include computing a digest corresponding to each port in the group of one or more ports, the digest being based on the information about the corresponding port. The method can further include determining whether each port in the group of one or more ports is suitable for aggregation in a link aggregation group by comparing the digest corresponding to each port with a digest of a port in the link aggregation group.