Network Controller Management Traffic Routing via Application Processor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional network management systems face limitations in efficiently performing remote management operations, such as inventory and security patch updates, across distributed systems, particularly in ensuring system up-to-dateness and security, due to the complexity of managing diverse protocols and hardware.
Innovation Solution
A distributed platform solution that utilizes a network controller and application processor to externally process Web Service Management (WS-Management) based traffic, enabling transparent routing of management traffic and interaction with managed components through a management bus, while processing Alert Standard Format (ASF) messaging internally.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If management traffic is processed internally within the network controller, then processing speed is improved, but device complexity increases and versatility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments management traffic processing into two distinct paths: internal processing for ASF messaging within the network controller, and external processing for WS-Management traffic through the application processor. This segmentation allows each processing path to be optimized independently, maintaining high processing speed for time-critical ASF operations while reducing device complexity by offloading WS-Management processing to the application processor.
Solution Approach 2:
The management bus acts as an intermediary component that connects the network controller to the application processor. It enables external processing of WS-Management traffic by serving as a communication channel between the network controller (which receives the traffic) and the application processor (which processes it), thereby reducing the processing burden on the network controller without sacrificing overall processing capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If diverse management protocols are supported, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network controller is designed with universal management interface capabilities that can handle multiple management protocols (ASF and WS-Management). By implementing a unified management bus and standardized interface architecture, the system achieves multi-protocol support without requiring separate dedicated hardware for each protocol, thereby improving adaptability while controlling device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The management bus serves as a universal intermediary that facilitates communication between the network controller and different processing targets (internal components or external application processor). This standardized intermediary layer enables the system to support diverse management protocols by providing a consistent interface architecture that can accommodate different protocol requirements without increasing overall system complexity.
3Device complexity
If WS-Management traffic is processed externally, then device complexity is reduced, but processing speed may decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments management traffic into two categories based on processing requirements: ASF messaging that requires fast internal processing within the network controller, and WS-Management traffic that can be processed externally by the application processor. This segmentation ensures that time-critical operations maintain high speed while less time-sensitive operations benefit from reduced controller complexity through external processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial external processing only to WS-Management traffic rather than all management traffic. By selectively routing only the protocol that benefits from external processing to the application processor while keeping critical ASF messaging internal, the system achieves reduced device complexity without significantly impacting overall processing speed for time-critical operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A portion of management traffic, carried via network traffic, and received and/or transmitted via a network controller, may be processed externally to the network controller. A pass-through driver may be utilized, in the network controller, to enable transparent routing of management traffic that may be processed externally. The externally processed management traffic may comprise WS-Management based messaging, while management traffic that may comprise ASF based messaging may be processed internally in the network controller. An application processor may be utilized to perform external processing of received and/or transmitted management traffic. A management bus may be utilized to enable routing of management traffic processed external to the network controller. The management bus may also be utilized to enable platform operations during processing of management traffic. The application processor may invoke, via the management bus and/or the pass-through driver, platform based functionality maintained via the network controller.