OpenFlow Control Plane Discovery via DHCP MIB Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
In OpenFlow networks, there is no defined discovery mechanism for forwarding-plane devices to automatically find control-plane devices, making it difficult to manage and maintain large-scale networks, especially when control-plane devices fail, requiring manual configuration and lack of auto-adaptive adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize a Management Information Base (MIB) to match identification information from forwarding-plane devices with control-plane device information, sending this information through DHCP messages, enabling forwarding-plane devices to automatically discover and adapt to control-plane devices within specified domains.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If static configuration is used for control-plane device discovery, then network stability is maintained, but network complexity increases and adaptability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The forwarding-plane device automatically discovers control-plane devices through DHCP protocol interactions without requiring manual configuration. The device queries the DHCP server and receives control-plane device information autonomously, eliminating the need for administrators to manually plan and configure control-plane device addresses on each forwarding-plane device.
Solution Approach 2:
The DHCP server acts as an intermediary between forwarding-plane devices and control-plane devices. It stores control-plane device information and provides it to forwarding-plane devices during the DHCP address allocation process, simplifying the discovery mechanism and reducing configuration complexity across the network.
2Manufacturing precision
If manual configuration of control-plane device addresses is performed on forwarding-plane devices, then configuration precision is achieved, but time consumption increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The control-plane device information is pre-stored in the DHCP server before forwarding-plane devices need to discover them. This preliminary preparation allows forwarding-plane devices to automatically obtain accurate control-plane device addresses through DHCP protocol interactions without manual configuration, significantly improving network deployment efficiency.
3Device complexity
If no discovery mechanism is defined, then protocol simplicity is maintained, but adaptability and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The DHCP server is extended to perform multiple functions: it not only allocates IP addresses but also stores and provides control-plane device information to forwarding-plane devices. This multi-functionality enables automatic discovery without requiring a separate discovery protocol, maintaining protocol simplicity while improving adaptability.
4Ease of operation
If control-plane device information is centrally stored in DHCP server, then ease of operation improves, but information security requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The DHCP server serves as a trusted intermediary that securely stores and controls the distribution of control-plane device information. It selectively provides information only to authorized forwarding-plane devices through authenticated DHCP protocol interactions, simplifying discovery operations while maintaining information security through controlled access.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided are a method and an apparatus for discovering an OpenFlow protocol-based control-plane device. The method includes: receiving identification information from an OpenFlow protocol-based forwarding-plane device, wherein the identification information is identification information of the forwarding-plane device, and the identification information corresponds to information of at least one control-plane device stored in a Management Information Base (MIB); performing matching in the MIB according to the identification information to obtain the information of the at least one control-plane device; and sending the information of the at least one control-plane device to the forwarding-plane device. The technical solution solves the technical problem in related art that a forwarding-plane device cannot discover a control-plane device automatically and effectively, and thus enables the forwarding-plane device to automatically discover the control-plane device and further perform auto-adaptive adjustment for the control-plane device.