Management Instance Synchronization for Resilient Data Center Failover

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing data synchronization methods in data center networks are resource-intensive and inefficient, particularly in managing redundancy and failover scenarios, leading to suboptimal management resilience.

Innovation Solution

Implementing application-level data synchronization between active and backup management system instances, where each application instance selectively transfers and reconstructs data based on what cannot be reconstructed by the backup, optimizing resource usage and ensuring complete data availability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional data synchronization methods are used between active and backup management system instances, then data redundancy is maintained, but resource consumption increases and synchronization efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanagement resilienceVSAvoidresource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and transfers only the specific subset of data that cannot be reconstructed by the backup instance, rather than synchronizing all data. This selective extraction approach reduces resource consumption while maintaining the necessary data redundancy for failover scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs partial synchronization by identifying and transferring only the necessary portion of data (the subset that cannot be reconstructed). This partial action approach avoids the excessive resource consumption of full data synchronization while ensuring sufficient redundancy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Reliability

If complete data synchronization is performed between active and backup instances, then data availability for failover is ensured, but synchronization time and system overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata availabilityVSAvoidsynchronization time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent identifies and extracts only the critical subset of data that cannot be reconstructed, transferring only this portion between instances. This extraction principle significantly reduces synchronization time while maintaining data availability for failover by ensuring the essential data is synchronized.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary identification of which data can and cannot be reconstructed, allowing the backup instance to pre-prepare for potential failover. This preliminary action reduces the time required during actual failover events by having critical data ready in advance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If selective data transfer is implemented, then resource efficiency improves, but data completeness for backup reconstruction may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesynchronization efficiencyVSAvoiddata completeness
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the backup instance communicates its data reconstruction capabilities to the active instance. Based on this feedback, the active instance determines the precise subset of data that cannot be reconstructed and transfers only that specific portion, ensuring data completeness while maintaining efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs exactly the right amount of data transfer by identifying the partial subset that cannot be reconstructed. This avoids both the insufficiency of transferring too little data and the inefficiency of transferring excessive data, achieving optimal synchronization efficiency with complete necessary data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP4657273A1Reconciling and auditing application-level synchronization of management system instances
Publication Date: 2025.12.03 NOKIA SOLUTIONS & NETWORKS OY
  • EP4657273A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4657273A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4657273A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Various example embodiments for supporting synchronization of management system instances of a management system providing management functions for a network are presented. The synchronization of management system instances of a management system providing management functions for a network may be supported for fabric services system instances of a fabric services system providing management functions for a data center network. The synchronization of fabric services system instances of a fabric services system providing management functions for a data center network may be supported by performing application-level data synchronization between the fabric services system instances of the fabric services system, controlling application-level data synchronization between the fabric services system instances of the fabric services system, reconciling and auditing application-level data synchronization between the fabric services system instances of the fabric services system, or the like, as well as various combinations thereof.