NIC Hardware Offloading for Nested Virtual Switch Routing

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Solution Overview

Problem

The scalability of virtual network topologies in information handling systems is limited by the increasing processing needs, particularly due to the resource-intensive nature of virtual switches which require multiple CPU cores for network throughput, leading to inefficiencies in handling high-bandwidth demands.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a network interface card (NIC) that offloads flows associated with virtual switches, creating fast paths that bypass transactions between the NIC and the operating system, allowing for the instantiation of virtual networks with multiple interconnected virtual switches without relying on CPU resources for routing data packets directly to virtual machines.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If virtual switches are used to route data packets through multiple virtual network layers, then network virtualization functionality is improved, but processor resource utilization increases excessively

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork virtualization functionalityVSAvoidprocessor resource utilization

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the flow routing functionality from the virtual switches and transfers it to the NIC's hardware flow manager. The NIC receives flow definitions from virtual switches and independently manages flow tables, allowing data packets to be routed directly by hardware without CPU intervention. This extraction resolves the contradiction by maintaining virtualization functionality while eliminating processor resource consumption for routine packet routing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a flow manager as an intermediary component that resides in the NIC's hardware. This flow manager acts as a mediator between the virtual switches and the data packets, handling routing decisions in hardware without requiring CPU involvement. The flow manager receives flow definitions from virtual switches and autonomously routes packets based on these definitions, resolving the resource utilization issue while preserving virtual network functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If data packets are routed through multiple virtual switches before reaching virtual machines, then network traffic management is improved, but the number of transactions between NIC and operating system increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork traffic managementVSAvoidnumber of transactions

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-defining flow rules in the hardware flow tables of the NIC. These flow definitions, which specify routing paths through virtual switches, are installed in advance and allow the NIC to autonomously route packets without real-time CPU intervention. This preliminary configuration maintains complex traffic management capabilities while dramatically reducing the number of actual transactions during packet forwarding.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables the NIC's flow manager to serve itself by autonomously making routing decisions based on pre-configured flow tables. The hardware flow manager independently matches incoming packets against flow rules and forwards them through the appropriate virtual switches without requiring CPU involvement. This self-service mechanism reduces transaction overhead while maintaining sophisticated traffic management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If CPU resources are used for routing data packets in virtualized networks, then flexible network topology support is improved, but scalability is limited by processing capacity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork topology supportVSAvoidscalability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical CPU-based packet processing system with a hardware-based flow management system in the NIC. The flow manager uses dedicated hardware resources (separate from the main CPU) to perform packet routing, matching, and forwarding operations. This substitution enables scalable network virtualization by offloading processing from the general-purpose CPU to specialized hardware, thereby improving both topology flexibility and system scalability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS11740919B2System and method for hardware offloading of nested virtual switches

Publication Date: 2023.08.29 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

An information handling system includes a processor and NIC coupled to the processor via a communication interface. The NIC includes a network port. The processor instantiates a virtual network including at least two virtual switches and a virtual machine. The NIC receives a first flow from a first virtual switch, the first flow directing data packets received on the network port and destined for the virtual machine to a second virtual switch, and receives a second flow from the second virtual switch, the second flow directing the data packets to the virtual machine. The NIC further receives a data packet on the network port, determines that the data packet is destined for the virtual machine, and routes the data packet to a virtual function associated with the virtual machine based on the first and second flows, without first routing the first data packet to either of the virtual switches.