Multi-path Network Distributed MAC Address Lookup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional Ethernet networks face performance degradation due to large MAC address look-up tables being unable to hold all active MAC addresses, leading to frame flooding and increased network traffic, especially in large networks with tens of thousands of ports, which is costly and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A multi-path network with a distributed address look-up table, where MAC address data is stored across multiple memory elements in a hierarchical structure, using hash values and bit arrays to manage and update address data, allowing each memory element to store only a subset of total addresses, reducing the need for flooding and enhancing scalability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large MAC address look-up table is used to store all active MAC addresses, then the network can accurately route frames to all devices, but the network traffic increases due to frame flooding when addresses are not found
Solution Approach 1:
The MAC address look-up table is divided into multiple distributed tables across different network elements. Each table stores only a subset of MAC addresses, reducing the size of individual tables and minimizing frame flooding when addresses are not found in local tables. The network elements coordinate to distribute the burden of address storage across multiple nodes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the MAC address look-up table size is increased to accommodate more active addresses, then more devices can be supported, but the cost and complexity of the network increases
Solution Approach 1:
The large MAC address table is segmented into multiple smaller tables distributed across network elements. This allows the network to support a large number of devices without requiring any single network element to maintain a prohibitively large table, reducing overall system complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The problem of storing many MAC addresses is solved by adding a spatial dimension - distributing the storage across multiple network elements rather than concentrating it in one location. This dimensional shift allows scalable support for tens of thousands of ports without linear increases in individual table sizes.
3Reliability
If frame flooding is used when MAC address is not found in the look-up table, then all possible destinations are notified, but network performance degrades due to increased traffic
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the MAC address table across multiple network elements, each element only floods frames locally when an address is not found in its portion of the table. This limits the scope of flooding to smaller regions rather than network-wide flooding, maintaining delivery reliability while significantly reducing overall network traffic and improving throughput.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a multi-path network for use in a bridge, switch, router, hub or the like, comprising a plurality of network ports adapted for connection with one or more devices, each device having a different identifying address data; a plurality of network elements; and a plurality of network links interconnecting the network elements and connecting the network elements to the network ports, wherein the multi-path network further comprises separately addressable memory elements each adapted for storing device address data and the multi-path network is adapted to distribute a plurality of device address data amongst the plurality of memory elements.