Network Controller for Branch Site Cloud Connectivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managing and controlling multiple network providers and connections between branch sites and clouds in multi-cloud environments is complicated and time-consuming, requiring a centralized orchestrator to dynamically manage resources and configure connections.
Innovation Solution
A network controller establishes a network gateway in an SDCI provider, creates cross-connectivity with clouds, groups virtual networks into tags, and configures connections using standardized parameters like BGP ASN and interconnect transit color, enabling automated BGP routing and API-based management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If enterprises adopt multi-cloud environments with multiple network providers, then cloud application accessibility and functionality are improved, but network management complexity and operational difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network management function by introducing a dedicated network controller that separates control plane functions from data plane forwarding. This segmentation allows centralized management of multiple cloud connections while keeping the actual network traffic handling distributed at edge devices, thus reducing overall management complexity while maintaining multi-cloud accessibility
Solution Approach 2:
The network controller acts as an intermediary between edge devices and multiple cloud service providers. It centralizes the management decisions and configuration operations, mediating the complexity of managing multiple network providers while allowing edge devices to maintain simple connectivity to various clouds
2Ease of operation
If manual configuration of multiple cloud connections is performed, then connection customization and control are improved, but configuration time and operational efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action through template-based configuration and automated provisioning. Network controllers can pre-define connection parameters, policies, and routing configurations before actual deployment, allowing rapid instantiation of cloud connections without manual step-by-step configuration for each connection
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service configuration where network controllers automatically discover available cloud services, select appropriate connections, and configure routing parameters without requiring manual intervention. This automated self-configuration maintains connection customization through policy-based control while dramatically reducing configuration time
Data Source
AI summary
The present technology is directed to controlling and managing resources both in Software-Defined Cloud Interconnect (SDCI) providers and cloud service providers via a single network controller and further connecting virtual networks in a branch site to virtual networks in the cloud service providers. A network controller can establish a network gateway in an SDCI provider, establish a cross-connectivity between the network gateway in the SDCI provider and one or more clouds, group one or more virtual networks in the one or more clouds and one or more virtual networks in a branch site into a tag, and establish a connection between the one or more virtual networks in the one or more clouds and the one or more virtual networks in the branch site using the tag.