NIC Flow Table Query Reduces Virtual Switch Load
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Solution Overview
Problem
In cloud computing environments, the excessive resource usage by virtual switches for data packet processing can reduce the operating efficiency of computing devices, as they need to support multiple virtual machines and switches, leading to limited hardware resources and reduced performance.
Innovation Solution
A data packet processing method where the Network Interface Card (NIC) queries a flow table and forwards packets to a virtual switch only when no match is found, allowing the virtual switch to obtain the flow table from an SDN controller, thereby reducing the load on the virtual switch and improving packet processing efficiency by shifting some processing tasks to the NIC.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the virtual switch handles all data packet processing tasks, then the processing is centralized and simple to manage, but the hardware resources are excessively occupied and processing efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data packet processing function by dividing responsibilities between the virtual switch and the NIC. The NIC is equipped with a flow table and performs packet matching locally, while the virtual switch handles flow table management and SDN controller communication. This segmentation reduces the processing burden on the virtual switch and improves overall processing efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension of processing by adding flow table matching capability to the NIC, transforming the single-point processing architecture into a distributed processing architecture. This dimensional change allows packets to be processed at the network interface level before reaching the virtual switch, effectively reducing virtual switch workload.
2Productivity
If the NIC handles more packet processing tasks, then the virtual switch resource burden is reduced, but the NIC complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the virtual switch acts as a mediator between the SDN controller and the NIC. The virtual switch manages the flow table and provides it to the NIC, allowing the NIC to perform intelligent packet matching without requiring complex internal logic for flow table management. This intermediary approach enables the NIC to handle more processing tasks while keeping its structural complexity manageable.
3Ease of operation
If the virtual switch processes all packets, then resource allocation is simplified, but the operating efficiency of computing devices is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments resource management responsibilities between the virtual switch and NIC. The virtual switch maintains simplified resource allocation by managing flow tables and SDN controller communications, while the NIC handles packet matching and forwarding decisions. This segmentation improves computing device operating efficiency by enabling parallel processing without complicating resource management.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure discloses a data packet processing method applied to a computing device in software-defined networking. After receiving a data packet of a data flow, a NIC queries a flow table set according to matching information of the data packet; and if a flow table is obtained from the flow table set the NIC processes the data packet according to the flow table; or if no flow table can be obtained from the flow table set, the NIC sends the data packet to a virtual switch to obtain a flow table corresponding to the data flow, and saves the flow table into the flow table set, so that the NIC can process a subsequent data packet of the data flow. An operating load of the virtual switch is reduced, and operating efficiency of the computing device is improved.