Orchestrator Tenant Overlay Network Constructs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Scalable, fault-tolerant, and secure platform is needed to support a large number of logical interfaces and switches for network connectivity between virtual routers and remote gateways in an Ethernet Virtual Private Network (EVPN) over Virtual Extensible LAN (VXLAN) settings, as existing solutions face challenges in managing and automating the deployment of virtual network functions.
Innovation Solution
The method involves an orchestrator that creates overlay networking constructs by mapping tenant network identifiers to overlay network identifiers, generating VXLAN tunnels, and managing sub-interfaces and logical switches, allowing for seamless automation of virtual network functions deployment and scalable connectivity between virtual routers and remote gateways.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual configuration methods are used for virtual network interfaces and switches, then deployment control is precise, but deployment efficiency is low and automation is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service automation through event-driven triggers. When specific events occur (e.g., VLAN creation, gateway attachment), the orchestrator automatically detects these events and triggers the corresponding virtual network interface and switch creation without manual intervention. The system serves itself by monitoring its own state changes and autonomously executing deployment tasks.
Solution Approach 2:
The orchestrator pre-configures templates for virtual network interfaces and switches with all necessary parameters and relationships. When deployment is needed, these pre-prepared templates are instantly instantiated, eliminating the need for step-by-step manual configuration. The preliminary preparation of deployment blueprints enables rapid automated execution.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the number of logical interfaces and switches is increased to support more tenants, then network coverage and connectivity are improved, but system complexity and management difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the virtual network into hierarchical layers: tenant networks, VLANs, overlay networks, and physical networks. Each layer is independently managed and can be scaled without affecting other layers. This segmentation allows the system to support thousands of logical interfaces and switches by organizing them into manageable, independent units that can be deployed and managed at different levels of the hierarchy.
Solution Approach 2:
The orchestrator provides universal management capabilities that work across all types of virtual network interfaces and switches regardless of the specific tenant or network configuration. A single automated deployment mechanism handles diverse network elements, and the event-driven architecture universally responds to various network events, reducing management complexity despite the large number of network elements.
3Productivity
If automated deployment is implemented for virtual network functions, then deployment efficiency and scalability are improved, but control precision and configuration accuracy may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The orchestrator implements feedback mechanisms where the deployment status of virtual network interfaces and switches is continuously monitored and reported back. Event triggers are generated based on actual system state changes, ensuring that automated actions are taken only when appropriate conditions are met. This feedback loop maintains configuration accuracy by validating each deployment step against the desired network state.
Solution Approach 2:
Deployment configurations and parameters are pre-validating and pre-configured in templates before automated deployment begins. This preliminary preparation ensures that all configuration data is accurate and complete before automation executes, preventing errors that might otherwise occur during rapid automated deployment. The pre-checking of configurations maintains precision while enabling automation.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for creating overlay networking constructs to establish network connectivity between virtual routers and remote physical gateways is provided. An orchestrator receives a mapping between tenant network identifiers for multiple tenant networks and overlay network identifiers for multiple overlay networks. The orchestrator attaches a virtual router to a parent logical port of an overlay logical switch for connectivity between a physical gateway and the multiple tenant networks. The orchestrator creates multiple child logical ports that are sub-interfaces of the parent logical port. Each child logical port is uniquely identified by a tenant network identifier. The orchestrator connects multiple child logical switches to the multiple child logical ports according to the received mapping. Each child logical switch is uniquely identified by an overlay network identifier. The orchestrator establishes multiple overlay networks based on the child logical switches to tunnel data between the physical gateway and the child logical ports.


