Network Validation via Cloud Mirrored Emulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network validation methods, such as laboratory and canary testing, are insufficient as they do not provide comprehensive validation of configuration changes across all network devices, leading to potential outages and errors due to incomplete testing, which can result in lost productivity and revenue.
Innovation Solution
A holistic validation method is implemented by replicating a target physical network in the cloud using emulated network devices that mirror the native communication and topology of the actual network, allowing for comprehensive testing without impacting the existing network, using nested overlay networks and network device images to recreate the exact behavior of hardware devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If configuration changes are applied directly to the actual network to detect and correct errors, then comprehensive validation is achieved, but network outages and service interruptions occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the network topology including virtual representations of network devices, connections, and configurations. This virtual network model allows comprehensive validation of configuration changes without affecting the actual network operations, resolving the contradiction between validation completeness and network availability
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs validation actions in advance on the virtual network copy before applying changes to the actual network. By simulating configuration changes and detecting potential errors beforehand, the system prevents outages while maintaining validation thoroughness
2Reliability
If canary testing is used to validate configuration changes on a subset of network devices, then validation is performed on actual network hardware, but the validation scope is limited and may provide false validation
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of testing on a subset of actual devices, the patent creates a complete virtual copy of the entire network topology. This allows comprehensive validation across all network devices in the virtual model, eliminating the limited scope and false validation issues of canary testing while maintaining validation on actual hardware configurations
3Object-affected harmful factors
If laboratory testing is conducted on a fractional reproduction of the network, then safe testing environment is provided, but the validation is incomplete due to missing connectivity and hardware
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual network copy that replicates the complete network topology, connectivity, and device configurations. This comprehensive virtual model provides both the safety of isolated testing and the completeness of full network validation, unlike fractional laboratory reproductions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from physical laboratory testing to a virtual dimension where the complete network topology can be replicated and tested. This dimensional shift allows comprehensive validation without the constraints of physical hardware limitations and connectivity requirements
Data Source
AI summary
A replication of a physical network is created in the cloud. The replicated network safely validates configuration changes for any hardware network device of the physical network and the physical network end state resulting from the changes without impacting the physical network steady state. The replicated network creates virtual machines on hardware resources provisioned from the cloud. The virtual machines emulate network device functionality and have the same addressing as the network devices. Nested overlay networks reproduce the direct connectivity that exists between different pairs of the network devices on the virtual machines. A first overlay network formed by a first Virtual Extensible Local Area Network (VXLAN) provides direct logical connections between the cloud machines on which the virtual machines execute. A second overlay network of VXLANs leverages the first VXLAN to establish direct logical connections between the virtual machines that mirror the direct connections between the network devices.