Network Manager Gateway Configuration for Overlapping IP Addresses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cloud computing systems face scalability issues when connecting multiple networks due to overlapping IP addresses, which can lead to address conflicts and increased resource consumption, making it difficult to manage and secure network communications across different entities and geographic locations.
Innovation Solution
A network manager is employed to generate configuration data that ensures non-overlapping CIDR blocks for connected networks, using software executed on server computers to program network devices and manage Virtual Routing and Forwarding (VRF) instances, thereby reducing the load on gateway routers and enhancing scalability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple networks are connected using traditional gateway configuration methods, then network connectivity is achieved, but IP address overlapping conflicts occur and resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a network manager as an intermediary component that sits between the gateway router and the networks being managed. This network manager generates and distributes configuration data to child network devices, ensuring that each network receives appropriate routing and forwarding rules. The intermediary prevents direct conflicts by mediating the configuration process, allowing multiple networks with potentially overlapping address spaces to coexist without address conflicts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of network configuration from static, manually-configured routes to dynamic, automatically-generated configuration data. The network manager analyzes the network topology and generates optimized routing tables and forwarding rules, transforming the configuration parameters to eliminate address conflicts. This parameter transformation allows the system to adapt to different network configurations without manual intervention.
2Productivity
If more networks are connected through the gateway, then network scalability improves, but gateway router resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the gateway functionality by introducing a network manager that handles the complex tasks of configuration generation and distribution. The gateway router itself is divided into a control plane (network manager) and data plane (forwarding functions). This segmentation allows the gateway to scale to more networks because the heavy lifting of configuration management is handled by the network manager, reducing the resource burden on the gateway router's forwarding plane.
Solution Approach 2:
The network manager acts as an intermediary that offloads configuration management tasks from the gateway router. By introducing this intermediate layer, the system can support more networks without proportionally increasing gateway router resource consumption. The network manager handles the computational intensive tasks of route calculation and configuration generation, allowing the gateway router to focus on efficient packet forwarding.
3Ease of operation
If manual configuration methods are used for gateway settings, then configuration flexibility is maintained, but configuration time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service configuration through the network manager, which automatically discovers the network topology, analyzes address spaces, and generates appropriate configuration data without requiring manual intervention. The system serves itself by automatically configuring child network devices based on the provided parent network configuration. This self-service approach maintains flexibility while dramatically reducing configuration time and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The network manager performs preliminary actions by pre-calculating and pre-configuring routing tables and forwarding rules before actual network traffic begins. By performing the configuration generation and validation in advance, the system eliminates the need for time-consuming manual configuration adjustments after deployment. The preliminary configuration ensures that networks are ready for immediate operation with optimized settings.
Data Source
AI summary
The following description is directed to configuring gateways in computer networks. For example, a system includes a first configurable network programmed with a first set of network addresses and a second configurable network programmed with a second set of network addresses. The system includes a private gateway connecting the first configurable network and the second configurable network to a client private network. The system includes a server computer configured to generate routing information for the private gateway. The routing information can restrict the network addresses that are reachable from the client private network to non-overlapping network address spaces within each of the first configurable network and the second configurable network. The server computer is configured to use the generated routing information to configure the private gateway for forwarding network packets among the client private network, the first configurable network, and the second configurable network.