Multicast Protocol Mirroring Control Plane
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional data stream mirroring configurations are cumbersome and require manual intervention across multiple network elements, leading to inefficient bandwidth allocation and increased costs due to the lack of a standardized control plane for managing mirroring.
Innovation Solution
Employing a multicast routing protocol in combination with IGMP as the control plane for mirroring applications, allowing for remote mirroring by designating streams for mirroring and using multicast routing information to propagate mirroring control messages, thereby simplifying configuration and enabling efficient bandwidth management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual configuration of multiple network elements is used for each mirrored stream, then mirroring can be established, but configuration complexity and time consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by making the multicast routing protocol serve dual purposes: its original function for multicast traffic distribution and a new function for mirroring control. The same protocol infrastructure (routing tables, message exchanges, protocol handlers) is reused to manage both multicast streams and mirrored streams, eliminating the need for separate dedicated control mechanisms and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the mirroring control plane with the existing multicast routing control plane. Instead of maintaining separate configuration systems, the invention combines mirroring stream management into the multicast routing protocol framework, where mirroring requests are processed as special cases of multicast group joins. This consolidation reduces the number of separate configuration actions needed and simplifies the overall control architecture.
2Reliability
If manual configuration at multiple routing entities is required, then mirroring can be implemented, but time consumption and operational effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables self-service by allowing the mirroring control messages to automatically propagate through the network using the existing multicast routing infrastructure. Once a mirroring request is initiated, the protocol automatically routes the control messages to the appropriate routing entities, which automatically update their forwarding tables and begin mirroring the stream. This eliminates the need for manual configuration at each node and significantly reduces setup time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing the multicast routing infrastructure and protocol handlers in advance. The network is pre-configured with multicast capability, so when a mirroring request arrives, the control plane can immediately leverage the existing protocol mechanisms without requiring ad-hoc configuration setup. This pre-prepared infrastructure enables rapid deployment of mirroring streams.
3Ease of operation
If dedicated control mechanisms are used for mirroring management, then precise control can be achieved, but system complexity and resource overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by making the multicast routing protocol serve dual purposes: its original function for multicast traffic distribution and a new function for mirroring control. The same protocol infrastructure (routing tables, message exchanges, protocol handlers) is reused to manage both multicast streams and mirrored streams, eliminating the need for separate dedicated control mechanisms and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the multicast routing protocol as an intermediary to manage mirroring control. Instead of implementing a complex dedicated control plane, the invention leverages the existing multicast protocol as a mediator that handles mirroring requests, propagates control messages, and coordinates the actions of various routing entities. This intermediary approach simplifies the control architecture while maintaining precise control over mirroring operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A mirroring configuration employs an alternate usage of an existing messaging protocol and mechanism for propagating mirroring control for remote mirroring of data streams. A source routing entity, i.e. a router or switch through which the mirrored stream passes, identifies the stream as available for monitoring. The enabled stream propagates from a source network device, typically from a router port, to a mirroring destination in addition to the addressed destination. A stream identifier emulates an identifier from an alternate usage, such as a multicast group identifier for a multicast protocol, and activates mirroring by inserting the stream identifier in publish and join messages of the multicast protocol.