Network Test Device Discovery via Routable Address Intermediaries
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Solution Overview
Problem
In large communication networks, discovering and mapping multiple test devices without assigned IP addresses is challenging due to the presence of aggregated link groups and dynamic load balancing, which complicates information collection and communication between central control devices and test devices, often resulting in devices being 'lost' and requiring rediscovery.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a control device that identifies routable network addresses by sending packets and receiving responses, uses these addresses for discovery packets to collect information from test devices, and stores this information for future rediscovery, recursively identifying additional routable addresses to maintain network connectivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If test devices are not assigned unique IP addresses to minimize total IP addresses, then IP address consumption is reduced, but device discoverability and mapping become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses network addresses from packets passing through test devices as intermediaries to communicate with the control device. Instead of test devices having their own IP addresses, the control device uses the IP addresses of other network devices that route packets through the test devices, enabling communication and discovery without requiring unique IP addresses for each test device
Solution Approach 2:
The test devices automatically provide their own identification and location information by analyzing packets they intercept. The test devices themselves generate the discovery packets and response packets, and automatically associate their identity with the network addresses they observe, eliminating the need for manual configuration or assignment of IP addresses
2Productivity
If dynamic load balancing is implemented in LAG devices, then network performance is improved, but test device mapping becomes unstable and rediscovery is required
Solution Approach 1:
The control device performs preliminary discovery of test devices by sending discovery packets to multiple network addresses before actual monitoring operations begin. This preliminary mapping establishes the relationship between test devices and network addresses in advance, allowing the system to handle subsequent dynamic load balancing changes without immediate rediscovery
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors network traffic and uses the observed packet information to update and maintain the mapping between test devices and network addresses. When changes occur in load balancing or network topology, the feedback mechanism allows the control device to detect and adapt to these changes, maintaining accurate device mapping without requiring complete rediscovery
Data Source
AI summary
A method of collecting information about a plurality of test devices connected in a network is provided. The method includes: identifying routable network addresses within a plurality of the network addresses, and sending discovery packets to the plurality of routable network addresses, receiving responses from the test devices, obtaining the information about the test devices, and storing the information so as to associate, for each of the test devices, the test-device information with at least one of the routable network addresses. The routable network addresses are stored in non-volatile memory for repeated use in re-discovery of the test devices in the network.