Network OS Telemetry for Native OTEL Trace Export
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network devices lack Open Telemetry (OTEL) tools, Software Development Kits (SDKs), and Application Programming Interfaces (APIs, making it cumbersome and expensive to integrate OTEL with proprietary network device Operating Systems (OSs).
Innovation Solution
Network devices are configured to generate OTEL Metrics, Events, and Traces (MELT) signals natively or in containers, identifying active traces in packets, and transmit these signals via Open Telemetry Line Protocol (OTLP) to an OTEL collector, which exports them to a cloud-based observability system without needing conventional OTEL tools or APIs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional OTEL tools, SDKs, and APIs are used to integrate OTEL with network devices, then OTEL functionality can be achieved, but integration becomes cumbersome and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the OTEL integration requirements from the complex ecosystem of tools, SDKs, and APIs, and implements them directly into the network device operating system. This eliminates the need for external integration components and reduces complexity while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal OTEL-compatible operating system that can directly generate and export telemetry data without requiring device-specific adapters or proprietary interfaces. This multi-functional approach allows the OS to handle multiple OTEL signal types (metrics, logs, traces) through a unified mechanism, reducing integration complexity.
2Ease of operation
If OTEL is integrated at the OS level of network devices, then seamless monitoring is achieved, but compatibility with proprietary OSs becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the OTEL implementation into distinct modular components within the OS (signal generation, collection, and export modules). This segmentation allows the same OTEL framework to be adapted across different proprietary operating systems by configuring individual modules rather than requiring complete OS redesign, thus maintaining ease of operation while improving adaptability.
3Loss of information
If OTEL MELT signals are collected and exported through traditional methods, then vendor-specific monitoring is achieved, but holistic network observability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the collection and export of all OTEL MELT signals (metrics, events, logs, traces) into a unified OS-level process. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate vendor-specific monitoring systems and reduces data collection complexity by providing a single standardized interface, thereby improving telemetry data completeness without increasing device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for introducing Open Telemetry (OTEL) into the operating system (OS) level of network devices are described. A method for performing OTEL network device management may include receiving, by a network device, a first packet. The method may also include identifying, by the network device, that the first packet contains information indicating an active OTEL trace, wherein the OS of the network device is configured for OTEL. The method may also include generating, by the network device, an OTEL trace span associated with the network device. The method may also include generating, by the network device, a second packet that includes the OTEL trace span associated with the network device. Finally, the method may include transmitting, by the network device and via OTEL line protocol (OTLP) the second packet to an OTEL collector.