Network Visibility System Automatic IP Discovery and Rule Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Network visibility systems face challenges in configuring forwarding rules for routing packets to analytic servers, particularly in identifying IP addresses and managing dynamic filters and component availability, leading to errors and overheads in manual configuration.
Innovation Solution
A network visibility system comprising a packet router and a router controller that automatically discovers IP addresses and configures forwarding rules, implements dynamic filters, and manages component availability, reducing manual intervention and ensuring reliable packet analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual configuration of forwarding rules and IP addresses is performed, then configuration flexibility and control are improved, but time consumption and error rates increase
Solution Approach 1:
The router controller automatically discovers IP addresses of network elements and generates forwarding rules without manual intervention. The system self-configures by extracting IP addresses from control plane packets and programming the packet router accordingly, eliminating the need for manual configuration while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The router controller proactively discovers IP addresses and configures forwarding rules before data plane traffic arrives. By performing preliminary discovery and configuration based on control plane information, the system prepares the packet router in advance, avoiding configuration delays when traffic needs to be routed.
2Manufacturing precision
If manual configuration of forwarding rules is performed, then configuration precision can be maintained, but error rates and overheads increase
Solution Approach 1:
The router controller continuously monitors control plane packets to discover IP addresses and dynamically updates forwarding rules. This feedback mechanism ensures that the packet router always has accurate routing information based on actual network element addresses, eliminating configuration errors from manual entry while maintaining precision through continuous verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual mechanical configuration processes with automated electronic discovery and programming. The router controller electronically extracts IP addresses from control packets and automatically programs forwarding rules, substituting human operators with automated software that eliminates transcription errors and configuration mistakes.
3Reliability
If the system monitors component availability status, then system reliability is improved, but processing overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The router controller performs multiple functions using the same control plane packet processing infrastructure: it discovers IP addresses, generates forwarding rules, and monitors component availability. By making the control plane processing multi-functional, the system achieves reliable component status monitoring without adding separate dedicated monitoring mechanisms that would increase overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
A network visibility system provided according to an aspect of the present disclosure forms rules for routing of packets to appropriate analytic server, based on IP addresses discovered while processing packets. Due to such discovery and forming of rules based on discovery, manual configuration of the network visibility system can be avoided. In an embodiment, the network visibility system comprises a packet router and a router controller. The router controller receives the examined packets from the packet router and configures the packet router with the formed rules.