NVGRE BFD Packet Encapsulation for Rapid Failure Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network management lacks a mechanism to support bidirectional forwarding detection (BFD) for detecting failures between end points in network virtualization using generic routing encapsulation (NVGRE) tunnels, which is essential for rapid fault detection and alternative path establishment.
Innovation Solution
Implementing BFD over NVGRE by encapsulating BFD data packets in accordance with NVGRE protocols, configuring parameters in the outer and inner headers of the NVGRE BFD data packets, and negotiating timer values to establish a BFD session between originating and terminating virtual tunnel end points, allowing for rapid detection of communication failures and quick establishment of alternative paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If NVGRE tunneling is implemented for network virtualization, then scalability and cloud computing deployment capabilities are improved, but the ability to detect communication failures between end points deteriorates due to lack of BFD support
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds BFD packets within NVGRE encapsulated packets, creating a nested structure where BFD control packets are placed inside the NVGRE tunnel payload. This allows BFD functionality to operate within the NVGRE virtualization framework without requiring separate detection mechanisms, thus maintaining both scalability and failure detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism that translates BFD operations to work over NVGRE tunnels. By using NVGRE-encapsulated BFD packets as a mediator, the system enables failure detection between VTEPs while maintaining compatibility with the existing NVGRE virtualization infrastructure
2Loss of time
If traditional BFD is used for failure detection, then rapid fault detection is achieved, but compatibility with NVGRE tunneling environments deteriorates due to protocol mismatch
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies BFD packet parameters by encapsulating them within NVGRE headers, changing the protocol structure to accommodate both BFD's rapid detection requirements and NVGRE's virtualization framework. The encapsulation preserves BFD's timing characteristics while adding NVGRE compatibility layers
3Adaptability or versatility
If NVGRE encapsulation is added for virtualization, then network virtualization functionality is improved, but packet structure complexity increases due to multiple header layers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the NVGRE encapsulated BFD packet structure universal by designing it to handle both standard NVGRE traffic and BFD detection traffic through a single unified format. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate packet structures for different purposes, thereby managing complexity while maintaining virtualization capabilities
Data Source
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AI summary
A system and method for detecting a communication status includes generating, at an originating virtual tunnel end point (VTEP), a network virtualization using generic routing encapsulation (NVGRE) data packet in accordance with NVGRE protocols. A bidirectional forwarding detection (BFD) data packet is encapsulated in the NVGRE data packet to provide an NVGRE BFD data packet. The NVGRE BFD data packet is transmitted to a terminating VTEP to establish a BFD session over an NVGRE tunnel. A communication status of the NVGRE tunnel is determined for the BFD session based on a reply BFD data packet received from the terminating VTEP in accordance with a receiving time interval.