Network Assurance Appliance for Bridge Domain L3out Validation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Complex computer networks face challenges in accurate and efficient error detection and configuration validation due to their intricate configurations, leading to difficulties in troubleshooting and ensuring proper network behavior.
Innovation Solution
The system and method for network assurance involve receiving a global logical model and converting it into a local model, comparing it with software and hardware models, and generating events based on validation results to ensure accurate configuration and detect inconsistencies, thereby validating the proper deployment of network configurations across different layers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If network configuration options are expanded to provide flexibility and control, then network adaptability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a network assurance appliance as an intermediary device that validates network configurations before deployment. This mediator checks configurations for errors and inconsistencies, allowing operators to use complex configuration options while the appliance ensures they are correctly implemented, thus maintaining flexibility without proportionally increasing operational complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary validation of network configurations before they are deployed to the network. The assurance appliance checks configurations in advance to identify potential errors, allowing operators to prepare complex configurations with confidence that validation will occur before deployment, reducing the burden of troubleshooting after deployment
2Adaptability or versatility
If network configuration becomes more complex to meet user needs, then network adaptability improves, but error detection difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network assurance appliance acts as a specialized intermediary dedicated to detecting configuration errors. Rather than relying on operators to manually verify complex configurations, the appliance automatically validates them against known error patterns and best practices, making error detection as easy as submitting a configuration for review
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a copy of the intended network configuration and validates this copy against error conditions before deploying it to the actual network. This allows thorough validation of complex configurations without affecting the live network, enabling detailed error detection in a safe environment
3Reliability
If manual configuration validation is performed to ensure accuracy, then configuration reliability improves, but validation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual configuration validation with automated validation performed by the network assurance appliance. The appliance uses automated scripts and validation logic to check configurations, providing rapid feedback on configuration accuracy without requiring manual review, thus maintaining high reliability while significantly reducing validation time
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements automated feedback loops where the assurance appliance continuously validates configurations and provides immediate feedback on errors or inconsistencies. This automated feedback mechanism replaces slow manual validation processes, enabling rapid iteration and correction of configuration issues without sacrificing accuracy
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are systems, methods, and computer-readable media for assuring tenant forwarding in a network environment. Network assurance can be determined in layer 1, layer 2 and layer 3 of the networked environment including, internal-internal (e.g., inter-fabric) forwarding and internal-external (e.g., outside the fabric) forwarding in the networked environment. The network assurance can be performed using logical configurations, software configurations and/or hardware configurations.