NUMA-Aware Output Interface Selection for Local Data Routing

Solution Overview

Problem

Logical networking operations in network devices with multiple NUMA nodes result in resource-intensive cross-NUMA traffic, necessitating efficient data traffic management to avoid such processing.

Innovation Solution

A data message processing device selects output options associated with the same NUMA node as the receipt interface to avoid cross-NUMA processing, using load balancing among equivalent options when necessary.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple network interfaces are bundled together for logical networking operations, then network connectivity and redundancy are improved, but cross-NUMA traffic increases which is resource intensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork connectivityVSAvoidresource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making the output interface selection dependent on the local NUMA node where the input interface is located. Instead of uniform treatment of all interfaces, the system selectively binds output interfaces to the same NUMA node as the input interface, creating locally optimized routing decisions that avoid cross-NUMA traffic while maintaining overall network connectivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If multiple output options with equal forwarding cost are available, then load balancing and redundancy are improved, but cross-NUMA processing increases which is time intensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveload balancing capabilityVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system modifies the equal-cost multi-path selection by introducing NUMA node affinity as a local quality constraint. Output interfaces are selectively bound to the same NUMA node as the input interface, creating locally optimized routing decisions that avoid cross-NUMA traffic while maintaining load balancing within the same NUMA domain.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements skipping by directly selecting output interfaces that are local to the input interface's NUMA node, bypassing the need to evaluate all available ECMP paths. This rushes through the selection process by pre-filtering to only locally relevant interfaces, eliminating cross-NUMA processing time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

3Adaptability or versatility

If cross-NUMA traffic is allowed for flexibility in routing, then path diversity is improved, but processing efficiency deteriorates due to resource intensive cross-NUMA operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverouting flexibilityVSAvoidprocessing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making the output interface selection dependent on the local NUMA node where the input interface is located. Instead of uniform treatment of all interfaces, the system selectively binds output interfaces to the same NUMA node as the input interface, creating locally optimized routing decisions that avoid cross-NUMA traffic while maintaining overall network connectivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12457164B2NUMA-aware output interface selection

Publication Date: 2025.10.28 VMWARE INC

AI summary

Some embodiments provide a method for a data message processing device that includes multiple network interfaces associated with at least two different non-uniform memory access (NUMA) nodes. The method receives a data message at a first network interface associated with a particular one of the NUMA nodes. Based on processing of the data message, the method identifies multiple output options for the data message. Each of the output options has an equal forwarding cost and each output option is associated with a respective one of the NUMA nodes. The method selects an output option for the data message that is associated with the particular NUMA node to avoid cross-NUMA node processing of the data message.