Network Route Validation Against Global Logical Model

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Solution Overview

Problem

Complex computer networks face challenges in accurate and efficient error detection and configuration validation due to their intricate configurations, leading to increased complexity and error-prone troubleshooting processes.

Innovation Solution

The system and method for network assurance involve receiving a global logical model and converting it into a local logical model, comparing it with software and hardware models, and generating events based on validation results to ensure accurate configuration and identify inconsistencies, thereby facilitating efficient troubleshooting and error detection across layers 1, 2, and 3 of the network.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If network configuration options are expanded to provide flexibility and control, then network adaptability and versatility improve, but network complexity increases and error rates increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork flexibilityVSAvoidnetwork complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary validation of route learnings against the global logical model before they are fully deployed. By validating configurations in advance and comparing them against the intended global model, the system prevents errors from propagating through the network, thereby maintaining flexibility while reducing operational complexity and error rates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If network configuration options are expanded to provide flexibility and control, then network adaptability and versatility improve, but troubleshooting difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork flexibilityVSAvoidtroubleshooting difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors network route learnings and provides feedback by comparing actual learned routes against the global logical model. This feedback mechanism enables automatic detection of misconfigurations and routing anomalies, significantly simplifying troubleshooting by providing real-time visibility into network state deviations without requiring complex manual analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Manufacturing precision

If comprehensive route validation is implemented, then configuration accuracy improves, but processing time and computational resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration accuracyVSAvoidvalidation processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The validation process is segmented into multiple stages: initial route learning, comparison against global logical model, and validation of specific route attributes (next hop, outgoing interface, metrics). This segmentation allows the system to validate configurations efficiently by processing only relevant attributes and stopping validation when inconsistencies are detected, thereby maintaining high accuracy while reducing unnecessary processing time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11343150B2Validation of learned routes in a network

Publication Date: 2022.05.24 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

Disclosed are systems, methods, and computer-readable media for assuring tenant forwarding in a network environment. Network assurance can be determined in layer 1, layer 2 and layer 3 of the networked environment including, internal-internal (e.g., inter-fabric) forwarding and internal-external (e.g., outside the fabric) forwarding in the networked environment. The network assurance can be performed using logical configurations, software configurations and/or hardware configurations.