Link Aggregation Exclusion for Mixed Traffic Types
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Solution Overview
Problem
In network communications, link aggregation can cause issues when handling mixed traffic types, such as Fibre Channel Over Ethernet (FCOE) and Ethernet, as it leads to problems in processing incoming responses due to lack of context information, resulting in inefficient bandwidth utilization and processing difficulties.
Innovation Solution
The system configures traffic to exclude certain traffic types, like FCOE, from link aggregation, using an 'excluded' list and hashing techniques to select transmission links based on physical port identifiers, ensuring that packets are routed correctly and bandwidth is utilized effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If link aggregation is used for all traffic types, then bandwidth utilization is improved, but processing reliability deteriorates due to lack of context information for certain traffic types like FCOE
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments traffic into different types (FCOE and Ethernet) and applies different link aggregation policies to each segment. FCOE traffic is excluded from link aggregation to maintain processing reliability, while Ethernet traffic continues to use link aggregation for high bandwidth utilization. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing each traffic type to be handled according to its specific requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different quality characteristics to different traffic types. FCOE traffic receives the quality of deterministic single-link transmission that preserves context information, while Ethernet traffic receives the quality of aggregated multi-link transmission that maximizes bandwidth. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by optimizing each traffic type's handling according to its specific needs.
2Productivity
If link aggregation is used for FCOE traffic, then bandwidth is increased, but context information is lost causing processing difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts FCOE traffic from the link aggregation process entirely. By identifying and separating FCOE packets from the aggregated traffic stream, the system preserves the context information that would otherwise be lost in aggregation. This extraction allows FCOE to maintain its deterministic transmission requirements while still utilizing available network bandwidth through alternative mechanisms.
3Reliability
If link aggregation is excluded for certain traffic types, then processing reliability is improved, but overall bandwidth utilization deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic traffic classification and policy application. The system dynamically identifies traffic types and applies appropriate link aggregation policies in real-time. This dynamic approach allows the system to maintain high bandwidth utilization for Ethernet traffic while ensuring processing reliability for FCOE traffic, resolving the contradiction through adaptive decision-making rather than static exclusion.
Data Source
AI summary
Method and system for a first network device and a second network device is provided. The first network device and the second network device communicate with each other via a first network link and a second network link. A traffic type between the first network device and the second network device is excluded from link aggregation. When a packet is received from the first network device; and if the packet is excluded from link aggregation, then the first network link or the second link is selected to transmit the packet based on a physical port identifier identifying a port of the first network device.