OpenFlow Switch Interface Mapping for Hybrid SDN Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

The integration of traditional network switches with OpenFlow switches is hindered by the lack of direct support for interface-based actions in the OpenFlow protocol, making it difficult to manage interface-based entries in Access Control Lists (ACL) filters on hybrid OpenFlow switches.

Innovation Solution

The method involves decoding OpenFlow flow entries from flow mod messages, searching a Service Access Point (SAP) match table for incoming interfaces with matching attributes, and updating the flow table on OpenFlow-enabled switches to include the decoded entries, allowing for the management of OpenFlow switches using attributes extracted from actions without requiring cumbersome workarounds.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional network switches are integrated with OpenFlow switches to form hybrid switches, then communication flexibility and SDN adoption are improved, but device complexity and management difficulty increase due to lack of direct interface-based action support

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication flexibilityVSAvoidmanagement complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary mapping mechanism that translates traditional network interface concepts into OpenFlow flow entries. The system maintains a mapping table that correlates interface attributes (VLAN ID, port, protocol type) with OpenFlow match fields, acting as a mediator between traditional switching paradigms and SDN control. This allows hybrid switches to manage interface-based ACLs without requiring native interface-based action support in OpenFlow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms interface-based management parameters into flow entry parameters. By extracting attributes from interface definitions (such as VLAN identifiers, port numbers, and protocol types) and converting them into corresponding OpenFlow match field parameters, the system enables interface-based ACL management through parameter transformation rather than direct interface-based actions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If interface-based ACL management is implemented on hybrid OpenFlow switches, then ease of operation is improved, but the lack of protocol support increases device complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterface-based management easeVSAvoidprotocol compatibility complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a copy or representation of interface-based ACL rules in the form of OpenFlow flow entries. Instead of implementing native interface-based actions, the system copies the functionality by generating equivalent flow entries that replicate interface-based filtering behavior using OpenFlow match fields and actions, thereby maintaining ease of operation while adhering to OpenFlow protocol constraints.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the interface-based ACL management function into discrete components: interface attribute extraction, parameter mapping, flow entry generation, and rule installation. By breaking down the complex interface-based management task into smaller, manageable segments that can be processed individually through the mapping mechanism, the system simplifies implementation while maintaining full functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If pure OpenFlow switches replace traditional switches, then SDN adoption and flexibility are improved, but communication compatibility with traditional networks deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveSDN flexibilityVSAvoidcommunication compatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal management approach that allows a single hybrid switch to perform both traditional switching functions and SDN-controlled functions. The interface-based ACL mechanism serves as a universal interface that works with both traditional network paradigms and OpenFlow SDN control, enabling the switch to maintain compatibility with traditional networks while simultaneously supporting SDN flexibility and programmability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The mapping mechanism acts as an intermediary layer that ensures communication compatibility between traditional network protocols and OpenFlow SDN control. By translating between interface-based representations and flow entry representations, the mediator maintains seamless communication compatibility while enabling SDN flexibility, allowing packets to be routed correctly whether they originate from traditional networks or SDN-controlled segments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9667440B2Method and system for identifying an incoming interface using openflow protocol

Publication Date: 2017.05.30 ALCATEL LUCENT SA

AI summary

A method for using the OpenFlow protocol to configure an OpenFlow-enabled switch is disclosed. In the embodiment, the method involves decoding an OpenFlow flow entry from a flow mod message, the flow entry including two or more components comprising at least one of a match field and an experimenter field, searching a service access point (SAP) match table for an incoming interface having attributes that match the two or more components, and updating a flow table on the OpenFlow-enabled switch to include the decoded flow entry when an incoming interface having attributes that match the two or more components is found.