Multi-chassis Link Aggregation via Unique Port Identifiers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing link aggregation systems across multiple network devices face complexity in identifying, acknowledging, and communicating effectively, leading to challenges in maintaining reliable and efficient network operations.
Innovation Solution
Assigning unique identifiers to each device and port within a link aggregation group, which are stored in association tables across multiple aggregation devices, allowing them to appear as a single device to clients and reconfigure communication paths in case of link failures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If link aggregation is implemented across multiple separate aggregation devices, then bandwidth and reliability are improved, but device complexity and difficulty of identification increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the link aggregation group into segments managed by individual aggregation devices, with each device maintaining its own association table. This segmentation allows each device to independently manage its portion of the aggregation while contributing to the overall reliability through redundancy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary configuration of association tables on each aggregation device before failures occur. These tables pre-establish the relationships between client devices and aggregation devices, enabling rapid failover without complex real-time decision-making during failures.
2Reliability
If multiple identifiers are assigned to each aggregation device and port, then communication reliability is improved, but information storage and processing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the identifier management functionality into existing association tables that are already present on each aggregation device. Rather than creating separate storage structures, the solution combines multiple identifiers within the existing table framework, reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The association tables serve multiple functions: they store client device identifiers, aggregation device identifiers, and port identifiers simultaneously. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate data structures for each type of identifier, reducing the overall quantity of information that must be managed.
3Ease of operation
If aggregation devices work together as a single logical device, then transparency to client devices is improved, but coordination complexity between devices increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses association tables as intermediary structures that enable coordination between aggregation devices without requiring complex direct communication protocols. Each device independently queries its local association table to determine forwarding decisions, eliminating the need for real-time coordination while maintaining the appearance of a single logical device.
Solution Approach 2:
Each aggregation device independently manages its own association table and makes autonomous forwarding decisions based on pre-configured information. This self-service approach eliminates complex inter-device coordination while maintaining transparency to client devices, as each device can independently handle traffic without consulting others.
Data Source
AI summary
A data communication network includes a client device and multiple aggregation devices coupled to each other and the client via links within a link aggregation group (“LAG”) across the aggregation devices. The aggregation devices appear to the client as a single device coupled thereto, and operate in conjunction with each other by assigning at least one different identifier to each of the plurality of separate aggregation devices and storing information including the identifiers to association tables located on each of the aggregation devices. The multiple aggregation devices can be separate switches, and the LAG can include multiple ports across the switches, with a different identifier being assigned to each of the ports in the LAG. A virtual link trunk interface can couple aggregation devices, which can reconfigure communication paths thereacross with respect to the client device using the identifiers in the stored association tables when a LAG link fails.