Link Aggregation Timer Synchronization for Message Loss Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) systems face issues with application message loss due to unpredictable timer settings for state machines, leading to delayed or failed data frame transmitting-receiving functions across aggregated links.
Innovation Solution
The method involves setting and managing specific timer durations for state machines in LACP, ensuring simultaneous expiration of timers for the Transmit and Mux machines to enable timely addition of ports to a TRUNK and restore data frame transmitting-receiving functions, thereby reducing message loss and enhancing reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If timer durations for state machines are set using empirical values or user configuration, then the system can be implemented without explicit timer specifications in LACP, but application message loss occurs due to delayed or non-simultaneous port state information notification
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by establishing specific mathematical relationships between timer durations of different state machines. The Transmit machine timer is set to d times the basic time unit, the Mux machine timer is set to (d-1) times the basic time unit, and the Receive machine timer is set to d times the basic time unit, where d is a positive integer. This parameter configuration ensures that timers expire simultaneously or in a controlled sequence, preventing message loss while maintaining implementation feasibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring the timer duration relationships before link aggregation operations begin. The systematic setup of timer parameters ensures that when link aggregation is initiated, the state machines will naturally coordinate their operations through the predetermined timer relationships, eliminating the need for complex runtime adjustments and ensuring reliable message transmission from the start.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the Transmit machine timer has not timed out when ports are added to TRUNK, then the system maintains timer control for state transitions, but port state information cannot be notified timely and data frame transmitting-receiving functions cannot be activated simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by changing the timer duration parameters to create a specific temporal relationship. By setting the Mux machine timer to (d-1) times the basic time unit and the Transmit machine timer to d times the basic time unit, the Mux machine timer expires one basic time unit earlier than the Transmit machine timer. This parameter adjustment ensures that port addition operations are initiated timely while maintaining the stability of state machine control through the structured timer relationship.
3Adaptability or versatility
If timer durations are not explicitly specified in LACP, then the protocol maintains flexibility and ease of implementation, but the lack of standardized timer settings leads to unpredictable state transitions and message loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by defining precise mathematical relationships for timer durations while maintaining the flexibility of not specifying absolute values in the protocol. The relationships (Transmit timer = d × basic unit, Mux timer = (d-1) × basic unit, Receive timer = d × basic unit) provide manufacturing precision through relative timing control, while allowing adaptability by permitting different implementations to choose appropriate base values and the integer d based on their specific requirements.
Data Source
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AI summary
The disclosure discloses a method and a device for link aggregation. The method includes: turning off data frame transmitting-receiving functions of all ports; when a timer of a Transmit machine expires, a Selection Logic machine selects a TRUNK for a port, a timer of a Mux machine is set and started, and the Mux machine prepares to add the port to the selected TRUNK; and when the timer of the Mux machine and the timer of the Transmit machine expire simultaneously, the Mux machine adds the port to the selected TRUNK, turns on the data frame transmitting-receiving function of the port according to aggregation state information in a received LACPDU message, and performs application message transmission. The method and the device of the present disclosure ensure simultaneous turning-on of the data frame transmitting-receiving function by properly setting the timer duration of each state machine, thereby reducing application message loss; in case an abnormality occurs at an aggregated link, the data frame transmitting-receiving function is turned off timely, increasing reliability of application message transmission by the aggregated link.