Logical Network Address Mapping Without Encapsulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Network virtualization techniques, such as overlay approaches, consume extra bandwidth and CPU cycles due to encapsulation and additional protocol layers, reducing available resources for guest workloads in datacenters.
Innovation Solution
Implementing multiple logical networks within a physical network without encapsulation by mapping each logical network address to a unique physical network address and using address replacement, allowing physical network addresses to be reused across logical networks, thereby optimizing bandwidth and CPU usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If overlay network virtualization is used, then network flexibility and logical network functionality are improved, but bandwidth consumption increases due to encapsulation and additional protocol layers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the encapsulation overhead from the network virtualization process. Instead of embedding logical L2 packets within physical L3 packets (encapsulation), the system uses address replacement where logical addresses are directly substituted with physical addresses in the packet header, eliminating the additional protocol layers and reducing bandwidth consumption while maintaining network virtualization functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the traditional overlay approach by using underlay network virtualization. Instead of adding logical network layers above the physical network (overlay), the system programs the physical network devices to operate based on the logical network model, replacing addresses rather than encapsulating packets, thus achieving virtualization without the bandwidth overhead of additional protocol layers
2Adaptability or versatility
If overlay network virtualization is used, then logical network functionality is achieved, but CPU cycles are consumed due to packet encapsulation and fragmentation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the computationally intensive encapsulation operations from the network virtualization process. By using address replacement instead of packet encapsulation, the system eliminates the need for complex packet manipulation, fragmentation, and checksum recalculation, significantly reducing CPU cycle consumption while preserving logical network functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the physical network devices to perform logical network services directly. By programming switches and routers to operate based on the logical network model through address replacement, the network infrastructure itself handles the virtualization tasks without requiring heavy processing at the endpoint devices, reducing overall CPU utilization
3Loss of energy
If physical network devices are programmed for logical network model, then network virtualization is achieved without encapsulation, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes physical network devices multi-functional by enabling them to operate in dual modes: traditional physical network operation and logical network service provision. Through address replacement and programmability, the same physical devices can handle both underlay traffic and overlay logical networks, reducing the need for separate virtualization hardware while maintaining bandwidth efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
Some embodiments provide a method for a network controller that manages multiple logical networks implemented by multiple managed forwarding elements (MFEs) operating on multiple host machines. The method receives a notification from a particular MFE that an interface corresponding to a logical port of a logical forwarding element has connected to the particular MFE and has a particular logical network address. The method assigns a unique physical network address to the interface. Each of multiple interfaces connected to the particular MFE is assigned a different physical network address. The method provides the assigned unique physical network address to the particular MFE for the particular MFE to convert data messages sent from the particular logical network address to have the unique physical network address.