Aggregated Networking Device Maintenance Without Traffic Loss
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Maintenance operations on aggregated networking devices, such as VLT peer switch devices, often result in data traffic loss due to the need for shutting down the entire domain or manual reconfiguration to prevent data loss during maintenance.
Innovation Solution
An Information Handling System (IHS) with a maintenance support engine that sends notification messages to other devices to suspend and resume data traffic, allowing maintenance to be performed without data loss and reducing the need for manual reconfiguration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If maintenance operations are performed on a VLT peer switch device, then the device can be maintained (troubleshooting, configuration changes, hardware replacement), but data traffic transmitted to that device is dropped
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by sending maintenance notification messages to peer switch devices and connected networking devices before maintenance begins. These notifications trigger pre-staging operations where peer devices prepare to handle traffic that would otherwise be sent to the maintenance device, and connected devices suspend traffic transmission to the maintenance device, preventing data loss before it can occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The maintenance notification message system acts as an intermediary mechanism between the maintenance device and other network devices. The messages coordinate actions across multiple devices (peer switch devices and connected networking devices) to ensure seamless traffic redirection and suspension, enabling maintenance without data loss through automated intermediary communication.
2Reliability
If the entire VLT domain is shut down to perform maintenance, then data traffic loss is prevented, but network availability is lost during maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of shutting down the entire VLT domain, the system applies local quality by targeting only the specific device undergoing maintenance. The maintenance notification messages are sent selectively to the maintenance device, its peers, and directly connected networking devices, allowing other devices in the domain to continue normal operations and maintain network availability while protecting against data loss locally at the maintenance device.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the maintenance operation from the entire network by isolating the maintenance device through targeted notification messages. Only the maintenance device and immediately connected devices are affected by traffic suspension, while the rest of the VLT domain continues operating normally, maintaining overall network productivity during maintenance.
3Reliability
If manual reconfiguration is performed to prevent data traffic loss during maintenance, then data traffic continuity is maintained, but time-consuming manual operations are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service by enabling devices to automatically respond to maintenance notification messages without requiring manual reconfiguration. Peer switch devices automatically pre-stage traffic handling, and connected networking devices automatically suspend traffic transmission to the maintenance device based on received notifications, eliminating time-consuming manual operations while maintaining data traffic continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The maintenance notification message system provides feedback mechanisms that automatically trigger coordinated actions across network devices. When a maintenance device sends notifications, peer devices and connected devices receive feedback and automatically adjust their traffic handling behavior, eliminating the need for manual reconfiguration and reducing maintenance time while ensuring data continuity.
Data Source
AI summary
An aggregated networking device maintenance system includes a first aggregated networking device and a second aggregated networking device that are coupled together, and each coupled to a third networking device. The first aggregated networking device receives a maintenance instruction and, in response, transmits a first maintenance notification message to the second aggregated networking device, and a second maintenance notification message to the third networking device that prevents the third networking device from transmitting data traffic to the first aggregated networking device. Maintenance operations on the first aggregated networking device may then be performed, and when the first aggregated networking device determines that the maintenance operations have completed, it transmits a first maintenance completed notification message to the second aggregated networking device, and a second maintenance completed notification message to the third networking device that causes the third networking device to resume transmitting data traffic to the first aggregated networking device.