Logical Performance Zones for Data Center Resource Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Data centers face challenges in efficiently allocating on-demand resources due to uncertainties in usage patterns and the need to share network resources, accommodate organic growth, and reduce risk from multiple failures, particularly in multi-tenant environments.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a system with logical performance zones, where resources can be dynamically allocated across different zones, using a scheduler that weights allocation criteria to ensure quality of service guarantees within requested zones, and providing tunnels with predetermined bandwidth for inter-zone communication, allowing on-demand resources to appear as a single logical network to users.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If on-demand resources are flexibly allocated across multiple performance zones, then resource utilization efficiency is improved, but network communication complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces tunnel interfaces as intermediary components that simplify inter-performance-zone communication. When resources are allocated across multiple performance zones, the system automatically creates tunnel interfaces between the source and destination zones, providing a standardized communication path that abstracts the underlying network complexity from resource allocation decisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the data center network into multiple performance zones with distinct communication characteristics. Each performance zone represents a logical segmentation that allows resources to be distributed across zones while maintaining manageable communication boundaries. This segmentation enables flexible resource allocation while containing network complexity within each zone.
2Speed
If resources are allocated within a single performance zone, then communication efficiency is improved, but resource allocation flexibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic resource allocation that adapts to different performance requirements. The resource allocation system can dynamically determine whether to allocate resources within the same performance zone or across different zones based on communication efficiency requirements and available resources. This dynamic approach allows the system to optimize for communication speed when resources are co-located while maintaining flexibility to allocate across zones when needed.
3Adaptability or versatility
If tunnel interfaces are created for inter-zone communication, then resource allocation flexibility is improved, but bandwidth consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the networking parameters and protocols used for tunnel communication to optimize bandwidth efficiency. By modifying tunnel interface parameters and using efficient encapsulation methods, the system reduces the overhead associated with inter-zone communication while maintaining the flexibility to allocate resources across performance zones.
4Reliability
If quality of service guarantees are provided for inter-zone communication, then service reliability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal QoS mechanism that handles both intra-zone and inter-zone communication through standardized interfaces. The tunnel interface framework provides a multi-functional solution that can guarantee quality of service for different types of traffic and communication patterns without requiring separate complex mechanisms for each scenario, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, the present invention can be used to efficiently allocate on-demand resources to a customer of a data center such as a multi-tenant data center having resources dedicated to given customers, as well as on-demand resources that can be flexibly provisioned to customers using a performance zone concept realized via logical switches to present a single logical network to the customer.