Net Device Integrating External Hardware Into Private Networks
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Managing and integrating client devices with client private networks in provider network environments is complex, especially when dealing with proprietary or custom hardware that may not be supported by the service provider's technology, requiring a solution that allows for seamless integration and management of hardware devices within the client's private network.
Innovation Solution
A network device (net device) provides private network control plane functionality, enabling clients to configure and manage their client devices as part of their private network using the same services and APIs used for virtual resources, allowing hardware devices to be integrated into the client's private network and extending security and access control functionalities to these devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If proprietary or custom hardware devices are integrated into the provider network environment, then device functionality and client control are improved, but device complexity and management difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
A network device is introduced as an intermediary component that bridges proprietary hardware devices and the provider network environment. The network device implements a control plane that translates between the hardware device's proprietary interfaces and the provider network's standardized APIs, enabling seamless integration without requiring the service provider to support each specific hardware variant. This intermediary approach maintains client control over their hardware while managing the complexity within the network device rather than propagating it throughout the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
The network device is designed with universal functionality to handle multiple types of proprietary and custom hardware devices through a unified control plane. Rather than requiring separate integration mechanisms for each device type, the network device provides a generic interface that can accommodate various hardware formats, protocols, and functionalities. This multi-functional design allows clients to integrate diverse hardware devices while maintaining a consistent management approach through standard provider network APIs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If proprietary hardware devices are integrated into the provider network, then client device support is improved, but service provider technology compatibility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The network device serves as a mediator layer between proprietary hardware devices and the provider network infrastructure. It translates proprietary device protocols and interfaces into standardized network protocols that the provider network can reliably handle. This intermediary translation layer enables full support for client-owned hardware devices while maintaining technology compatibility within the provider network, as the network core only needs to interact with standardized interfaces through the network device.
3Ease of operation
If separate management interfaces are used for hardware devices and virtual resources, then device-specific control is improved, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The network device's control plane is designed to provide universal management capabilities for both hardware devices and virtual resources through a single unified interface. It abstracts the differences between managing physical hardware and virtual resources, allowing clients to use the same provider network APIs and service interfaces for both types of resources. This universality simplifies operations by eliminating the need to learn and switch between separate management systems, while the network device internally handles the device-specific control requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus that extend private network functionality to client devices that are not part of a provider network. A net device may provide private network control plane functionality to devices that are external to the provider network and connected to ports on the net device. The devices are assigned addresses within the address space of the private network. Packets sent from the devices through the net device are encapsulated by the net device and routed over the private network to their destinations. Packets sent to the devices are routed by the private network to the net device, decapsulated, and provided to the devices. Via the functionality provided by the net device, a client may configure and manage client devices as part of their client private network using the same services and APIs that are used to configure and manage their virtual resources on the client private network.