Multi-Tiered Application Traffic Simulator for Network Validation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional traffic generation tools fail to efficiently link and validate traffic flows in multi-tiered applications, making it difficult to design, develop, and deploy these applications in real computer networks, especially when various services communicate using different networking protocols.
Innovation Solution
A traffic generation tool that emulates traffic behavior by automatically spawning serial and concurrent backend requests and linking them across different network protocols, allowing for efficient simulation of tier-to-tier traffic flows, thereby speeding up the development and deployment of multi-tiered applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional traffic generation tools are used, then each individual traffic flow can be generated, but the traffic flows cannot be efficiently linked together to validate multi-tiered applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple individual traffic flow generation capabilities into a unified traffic simulation system that can link and coordinate flows across multiple tiers. The system merges separate flow generators into an integrated platform that automatically establishes connections between frontend, backend, and database tier traffic flows, resolving the inability of conventional tools to link flows efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The traffic simulation system provides universal functionality by supporting multiple networking protocols (TCP, UDP, HTTP, HTTPS, MySQL, PostgreSQL) and serving multiple purposes: generating individual flows, linking flows across tiers, validating network designs, and testing application performance. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate tools for each task.
2Reliability
If multi-tiered applications are designed and deployed in real computer networks, then the applications can be fully operational, but it is difficult to validate the network design prior to deployment
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary validation of network designs by simulating traffic flows before actual deployment. It allows users to test and validate the multi-tiered application architecture, protocol configurations, and network performance characteristics in a virtual environment, identifying and fixing issues before committing to production deployment, thus preventing time loss from rework.
Solution Approach 2:
The traffic simulation system creates virtual copies of the intended network environment and traffic patterns, allowing validation of network designs without requiring actual deployment. By copying the expected traffic behavior and network topology in a simulation environment, the system enables thorough validation while saving the time that would otherwise be spent on iterative deployment and testing cycles.
3Productivity
If conventional tools treat each traffic flow as a separate entity, then individual flows can be managed, but efficient linking and coordination of various traffic flows cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a central coordination mechanism that acts as an intermediary between individual traffic flow generators. This mediator automatically establishes links between flows, manages protocol translations, and coordinates timing and sequencing across tiers. By inserting this intermediary layer, the system enables efficient flow linking without requiring complex manual configuration or direct management of each individual flow connection.
Data Source
AI summary
A traffic generation tool is provided for simulating a multi-tiered application for network validation. A multi-tiered application can include at least one frontend service and multiple backend services. The traffic generation tool can load configuration files that specify the behavior of each endpoint within the frontend and backend services of the multi-tiered application. The traffic generation tool can direct a client to send a request to the frontend service. The traffic generation tool can, in response to receiving the request at the frontend service, sequence a chain of additional requests using one or more different network communications protocols to the backend services.