Multi-subnet IP Allocation for Cloud Gateways
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Solution Overview
Problem
In cloud computing environments, the scarcity of IP addresses in subnets limits the ability to allocate and deallocate addresses efficiently, leading to resource wastage and insufficient IP addresses for network services, as gateways can only be assigned IP addresses from a single subnet and cannot deallocate them without being removed.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for a network management server to allocate and deallocate IP addresses from multiple subnets to a network gateway, allowing for dynamic allocation and deallocation of IP addresses across multiple subnets, ensuring efficient use of available IP addresses and supporting multi-subnet participation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If IP addresses are allocated from a single subnet to a network gateway, then the gateway can be deployed with initial IP address requirements, but the subnet may run out of allocable IP addresses when additional services are needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the IP address allocation by allowing gateways to participate in multiple subnets rather than being confined to a single subnet. The gateway is assigned IP addresses from different subnets (first subnet for initial deployment, second subnet for additional services), effectively dividing the address allocation across multiple segments to prevent exhaustion in any single subnet.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-dimension IP allocation model (one subnet per gateway) to a multi-dimensional model where gateways can be allocated IP addresses from multiple subnets. This dimensional expansion allows the system to draw from additional IP address pools when the initial subnet is exhausted.
2Reliability
If IP addresses are permanently allocated to a network gateway, then the gateway has stable IP addresses for network services, but IP addresses are wasted when the gateway does not need them
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic IP address allocation where IP addresses are not permanently bound to gateways but can be allocated and deallocated as needed. The network management server can dynamically assign IP addresses from the subnet's sub-allocation pool to gateways when services are activated and deallocate them when services are deactivated, maintaining stability during active use while preventing wastage during inactivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a mechanism where IP addresses can be discarded (deallocated) from gateways that no longer need them and recovered back to the subnet's address pool for reuse. This allows the system to eliminate wasted IP addresses while maintaining reliable allocation for active gateway services.
3Adaptability or versatility
If additional IP addresses are allocated from the initial subnet, then the gateway can implement additional network services, but the initial subnet may not have sufficient available addresses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the network gateway universal by enabling it to obtain IP addresses from multiple subnets rather than being dependent on a single subnet. The gateway can function with IP addresses from the first subnet for initial services and additionally acquire addresses from the second subnet to support expanded services, making the gateway adaptable to varying service requirements without being constrained by a single subnet's address availability.
Data Source
AI summary
A network management server allocates network addresses to a network gateway connected to a public network after receiving an allocation request that specifies a number of network addresses to allocate to the network gateway. The network management server determines a first and second subnets of the public network having, respectively, first and second pools of available network addresses capable of being allocated to devices on the public network, and allocates one or more available network addresses from the first and second pools to the network gateway.