Network Analyzer Telemetry Path Determination for Bare Metal Servers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network management systems face challenges in determining the path of telemetry flow data between Bare Metal Servers (BMS) without a Contrail vRouter Agent, especially when source and destination virtual network information is unknown, leading to difficulties in configuring network devices effectively.
Innovation Solution
A network analyzer is configured to receive sensor messages and telemetry flow messages, mapping interface indices and virtual network identifiers to IP addresses, and using virtual port group information to derive the path between BMS, even in the absence of Contrail vRouter Agent knowledge, thereby managing telemetry flow data and avoiding duplicate traffic counting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If network management systems use traditional methods with Contrail vRouter Agent to determine telemetry flow paths, then path determination accuracy is improved, but system complexity and dependency increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the path determination logic from the Contrail vRouter Agent dependency and implements it directly in the network management system using sensor messages and telemetry flow messages. This removes the intermediary agent while preserving the path determination capability, thereby reducing system complexity and dependency while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The network management system performs path determination autonomously by processing sensor messages and telemetry flow messages itself, without requiring external Contrail vRouter Agent assistance. The system uses its own resources to map interface indices to IP addresses and determine paths, achieving self-service and reducing external dependencies.
2Reliability
If network analyzers process both ingress and egress sampling data, then traffic monitoring completeness is improved, but duplicate counting occurs
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of processing both ingress and egress data and then filtering duplicates, the patent inverts the approach by selectively processing only one direction (ingress or egress) based on flow characteristics. This prevents duplicate counting from occurring in the first place while maintaining monitoring completeness through intelligent selection of the appropriate sampling direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different processing qualities to different traffic flows by determining whether to process ingress or egress sampling data based on specific flow characteristics and directions. Each flow receives customized processing appropriate to its nature, ensuring complete monitoring without duplicate counting while maintaining reliability.
3Measurement precision
If network analyzers map interface indices and virtual network identifiers to IP addresses using sensor messages, then telemetry flow data accuracy is improved, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary mapping of interface indices and virtual network identifiers to IP addresses by processing sensor messages in advance. This pre-computation creates a ready-to-use mapping that simplifies subsequent telemetry flow message processing, improving data accuracy while reducing the complexity of real-time processing through advance preparation.
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes receiving, by a network analyzer implemented in circuitry, from a network device of a plurality of network devices, a sensor message for telemetry flow data. The sensor message indicates an interface index for a network interface, a virtual network identifier associated with a virtual network, and an IP address. The method further includes receiving, by the network analyzer, from the network device, a telemetry flow message for the telemetry flow data. The method further includes, in response to determining that the telemetry flow message includes an indication of an interface index that matches the interface index of the sensor message and that the telemetry flow message includes an indication of a virtual network identifier that matches the virtual network identifier of the sensor message, setting, by the network analyzer, the IP address as the source of the telemetry flow data.