Local Management Engine for SDN Switch Latency Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
In software-defined networking (SDN) environments, management plane traffic introduces complexity and latency due to the need to transmit packets to a remotely located SDN controller for evaluation, leading to potential packet drops or service stalls during processing delays.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a local management engine or controller on network devices to evaluate and manage management plane traffic, allowing for immediate decision-making and action without relying on a remote SDN controller, using a generic processor and APIs to abstract both control and management planes, enabling flexible configuration and reduced latency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If management plane traffic is transmitted to a remote SDN controller for evaluation, then centralized control is achieved, but latency increases and packet drops may occur during processing delays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the management plane traffic handling by separating it from the remote SDN controller and implementing a local management plane on the network device. This allows the device to independently evaluate and process management plane packets without waiting for remote controller responses, thereby reducing latency while maintaining centralized control for data plane operations.
2Loss of time
If a local management engine is implemented on network devices, then latency is reduced and immediate actions can be taken, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the management plane evaluation functionality from the remote SDN controller and places it locally on the network device. This extraction enables immediate processing of management plane traffic without the need for complex communication protocols and coordination mechanisms between remote controller and device, thus reducing latency while the added local functionality is minimal.
3Ease of operation
If management plane traffic is processed remotely, then network management is simplified, but service stalls may occur during processing delays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by enabling the network device to independently evaluate and process management plane packets locally before any service stall can occur. This preliminary local processing ensures that time-sensitive management operations are completed immediately, preventing service stalls while maintaining simplified remote management capabilities for non-time-critical operations.
Data Source
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AI summary
A network node may contain a virtual software-defined networking (SDN) switch and a local a management engine (e.g., a software application) for generating performance metrics based on received management plane traffic. Specifically, the virtual SDN switch may identify and forward received management plane traffic to the local management engine. In turn, the management engine evaluates the management plane traffic to generate performance metrics without forwarding the management plane packets to the remote SDN controller. The management engine may compare the metrics to one or more thresholds to determine the current state or health of the data paths in a network. If a threshold is exceeded, the management engine may transmit an alert to the virtual SDN switch to perform a corrective action - e.g., using a backup data path after the primary data path fails.