Logical Router Instance Segmentation for VM Traffic
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Solution Overview
Problem
In network virtualization environments, communication between virtual machines (VMs) across different subnets generates unnecessary network traffic, leading to higher latency and lower throughput, which degrades application performance.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a logical routing element (LRE) with logical interfaces (LIFs) that serve as interfaces to corresponding network segments, allowing for addressability by multiple identifiers and enabling local L3 packet forwarding without a shared L3 router.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a shared L3 router is used for inter-subnet communication, then network connectivity between different subnets is achieved, but network traffic increases and performance degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The network is segmented into multiple logical networks, each with its own L3 router instance. This allows VMs in the same logical network to communicate directly without traversing a shared L3 router, reducing unnecessary traffic while maintaining connectivity between different logical networks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension of logical network segmentation beyond traditional physical network boundaries. By creating multiple L3 routing domains (logical networks), it enables direct communication within each domain while isolating traffic between domains, effectively adding a logical layer to the network architecture.
2Adaptability or versatility
If packets traverse through a shared L3 router for inter-subnet communication, then routing between different IP subnets is enabled, but latency increases and throughput decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The network is divided into multiple logical networks, each with its own L3 router instance. This segmentation enables local routing decisions within each logical network, eliminating the need for packets to traverse a shared L3 router and reducing latency for VMs in the same logical network.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces logical networks as intermediaries between VMs that need to communicate. Instead of direct communication through a shared L3 router, VMs communicate within their logical network context, with the logical network acting as an intermediary that enables efficient local routing.
3Ease of operation
If a shared L3 router is used, then centralized routing control is maintained, but network traffic unnecessarily traverses external routers even for same-host VM communication
Solution Approach 1:
The network is segmented into multiple logical networks with distributed L3 router instances. This allows same-host VMs in the same logical network to communicate directly without traffic traversing external routers, reducing energy consumption and network traffic while maintaining centralized orchestration through the network virtualization layer.
Solution Approach 2:
Each logical network has its own L3 router instance with local routing capabilities. This enables local routing decisions at each logical network boundary, allowing VMs to communicate efficiently within their local logical network without requiring centralized routing through a shared L3 router for every packet.
Data Source
AI summary
A logical routing element (LRE) having multiple designated instances for routing packets from physical hosts (PH) to a logical network is provided. A PH in a network segment with multiple designated instances can choose among the multiple designated instances for sending network traffic to other network nodes in the logical network according to a load balancing algorithm. Each logical interface (LIF) of an LRE is defined to be addressable by multiple identifiers or addresses, and each LIF identifier or address is assigned to a different designated instance.