Network Service Discovery Using BGP Attributes Across Clusters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network management systems in cloud data centers face challenges in efficiently communicating between virtual execution elements across multiple network clusters due to reliance on DNS servers with long time-to-live (TTL) endpoints, which can lead to delays and inaccuracies, and the complexity of service meshes, making it difficult to scale and manage network services.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of network service information using Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) extended communities and customized attributes allows direct communication between virtual execution elements without relying on DNS servers or complex service meshes, enabling efficient and reliable network service discovery across multiple clusters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If DNS servers are used to manage endpoint references in network clusters, then network service communication can be established, but the long time-to-live (TTL) of DNS endpoints causes delays and inaccuracies when endpoints are created or removed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the endpoint reference management function from the DNS server system and implements it directly within the network controller using BGP attributes. This removes the dependency on DNS TTL mechanisms and allows immediate propagation of endpoint creation and removal information across network clusters, eliminating the time delay and accuracy issues associated with DNS-based service discovery.
2Ease of operation
If service meshes are implemented to enable communication between virtual execution elements, then network connectivity is achieved, but the complexity of service meshes makes it difficult to scale and manage network services
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the service mesh functionality and consolidates it into the network controller by utilizing BGP extended communities and customized attributes for service advertisement. This eliminates the need for complex service mesh infrastructure while maintaining the ability to enable communication between virtual execution elements across network clusters, significantly reducing system complexity and improving manageability.
Solution Approach 2:
The network controller is enhanced to perform multiple functions including service advertisement, endpoint management, and routing control all through a single BGP-based mechanism. This multi-functional approach replaces the need for separate service mesh components, achieving the same communication enablement goal with a unified, simpler system.
3Productivity
If BGP extended communities and customized attributes are used for network service advertisement, then direct communication between virtual execution elements is enabled without DNS or service meshes, but intermediary devices must support these attribute formats
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the BGP attribute information into two parts: standard BGP routing information that all intermediary devices can handle, and extended community/customized attributes that carry the network service information. This segmentation allows the service advertisement to traverse traditional network infrastructure while the enhanced functionality is preserved for capable endpoints, balancing productivity improvement with broad compatibility.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are disclosed for a computing system comprising processing circuitry having access to a storage device, the processing circuitry configured to encode, by a network controller executing in a software defined network (SDN), one or more attributes with information identifying a network service, wherein the one or more attributes conform to a routing protocol. The processing circuitry is also configured to generate, by the network controller, an advertisement in a first network cluster executing within a container orchestration platform of the SDN, wherein the advertisement conforms to the routing protocol and includes the one or more attributes. The processing circuitry is also configured to broadcast, by the network controller and to a second network cluster executing within the container orchestration platform of the SDN, the advertisement in accordance with the routing protocol.