Master-Slave Link Bandwidth Update Flooding for Network Scalability
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Solution Overview
Problem
As networks scale, existing techniques struggle to efficiently process the high volume of Link Bandwidth Update PDUs, leading to increased processing requirements and reduced scalability and performance in routing updates.
Innovation Solution
The method involves designating a master node for each link to flood Link Bandwidth Update notifications only, with the slave node flooding updates during link failures or parameter changes, reducing the number of notifications by half and optimizing CPU processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If Link Bandwidth Update PDUs are flooded from both nodes on each link, then network topology accuracy is maintained, but processing overhead and PDU volume increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designates one node as master and the other as slave for each link, creating an asymmetric relationship where only the master node floods Link Bandwidth Update PDUs under normal conditions. This asymmetry reduces PDU volume by half while maintaining topology accuracy through the slave node's periodic updates and event-driven notifications for critical changes.
2Quantity of substance
If bandwidth thresholds are set to reduce Link Bandwidth Update flooding, then PDU volume decreases, but network scalability and responsiveness to bandwidth changes deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic update mechanism where the slave node transitions from passive to active flooding based on network conditions and events. During normal operation, only the master floods updates to reduce PDU volume. However, when link failures occur, bandwidth thresholds are exceeded, or other significant events happen, the slave node actively floods updates to maintain network responsiveness and scalability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If Spanning Tree paths are used to constrain PDU flooding, then network stability improves, but update propagation speed and mesh restoration performance decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the update flooding responsibility by node role (master/slave) rather than constraining flooding to Spanning Tree paths. This segmentation allows updates to be propagated more efficiently through the network while maintaining stability through the structured master-slave relationship and event-driven update triggers.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, node, and network for reduced link bandwidth updates from a first node and a second node forming a link in a network includes, responsive to establishment or release of one or more connections on the link, flooding an update related thereto from only a master node that is one of the first node and the second node; responsive to a link failure associated with the link, flooding an update related thereto from both the first node and the second node; and, responsive to a change in parameters associated with the link, flooding an update related thereto from both the first node and the second node. The flooding can be part of a control plane associated with the network and/or to a Software Defined Networking (SDN) controller.