Network Interface Controller Message Striped Across Multiple Subnets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for high-performance computing face challenges in efficiently communicating large messages across multiple network interface controllers (NICs) while maintaining message ordering and resilience, particularly in large-scale systems with complex topologies and potential NIC failures, which can lead to issues like stale packets and increased costs due to infrastructure requirements.
Innovation Solution
A system that configures multiple NICs to communicate large messages using a manifest protocol, allowing for adaptive routing and fault tolerance by identifying alternate NICs in case of failures, and utilizing multiple subnets for increased bandwidth and resilience, ensuring message integrity and reducing infrastructure costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple NICs are used to communicate large messages, then bandwidth and resilience are improved, but device complexity and infrastructure costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments large messages into smaller packets that can be transmitted across multiple NICs simultaneously. Each NIC handles a portion of the message traffic, dividing the communication load across multiple network interfaces. This segmentation enables parallel transmission paths, increasing overall bandwidth while managing complexity through structured packetization and routing protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a manifest protocol that enables NICs to serve multiple functions: standard message transmission, failure detection, alternate path routing, and message reassembly. The same NIC infrastructure is used for both primary communication and fault tolerance mechanisms, reducing the need for dedicated redundant hardware while maintaining resilience.
2Reliability
If multiple NICs are deployed for fault tolerance, then reliability is improved, but infrastructure costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements beforehand cushioning by pre-configuring manifest information that contains alternate NIC identifiers and routing paths before failures occur. When a NIC fails, the system can immediately switch to pre-identified alternate paths without requiring expensive dedicated backup hardware. The manifest protocol stores routing information that enables rapid failover, providing fault tolerance through software-based redundancy rather than hardware duplication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by creating virtual representations of NIC identities and routing paths in the manifest protocol. Instead of requiring physical duplicate NICs for every possible failure scenario, the system copies routing information and NIC identifiers into the manifest, enabling logical redundancy that provides fault tolerance at minimal infrastructure cost.
3Reliability
If adaptive routing is implemented across multiple subnets, then message ordering and resilience are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by embedding message sequencing information and routing instructions in the manifest protocol before transmission begins. The manifest contains pre-calculated routing paths and message order identifiers that guide packets through multiple subnets. This preliminary configuration enables adaptive routing decisions at network nodes without requiring complex real-time processing, maintaining message ordering while managing device complexity through pre-computed routing information.
Data Source
AI summary
A system, method, and apparatus may provide one or more tangible, nontransitory computer-readable storage media having stored thereon executable instructions to instruct a processor to: stripe an outgoing network message into two or more pieces; send a first piece to a receiver via a first network interface card (NIC), and a second piece to the receiver via a second NIC; and upon determining that the receiver failed to receive a piece of the outgoing network message, replay the piece that the receiver failed to receive via a third NIC.