Overlay DNS Load Balancing via Weighted Device Selection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Overlay networks face increased operational and manageability costs and complexity due to the need for updating DNS servers with overlay IP addresses, and they often suffer from inefficient load balancing while routing traffic between computing devices in different networks.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for load balancing over an overlay network using a DNS load balancing module that calculates weighted values for each computing device based on parameters like CPU capability, RAM availability, and network latency to identify and route traffic to the least loaded device, thereby optimizing resource utilization and minimizing response time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If overlay networks are created with a new address space, then routing efficiency and network security are improved, but operational and manageability cost and complexity increase due to DNS server updates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an overlay DNS server as an intermediary layer between the overlay network and the corporate DNS server. This overlay DNS server maintains a local cache of overlay IP address to underlay IP address mappings, eliminating the need to update the corporate DNS server with overlay address assignments. The intermediary handles DNS resolution requests within the overlay network context, reducing operational complexity while maintaining routing efficiency.
2Ease of manufacture
If overlay networks use traditional DNS servers for name resolution, then infrastructure cost is reduced, but load balancing efficiency deteriorates due to incorrect namespace resolution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a DNS load balancing module within the overlay DNS server that provides localized, context-aware DNS resolution for overlay networks. This module calculates weighted values for computing devices based on current load conditions and selects the least loaded device for DNS resolution. This local quality enhancement ensures correct namespace resolution and efficient load balancing without requiring external DNS infrastructure modifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The DNS load balancing module dynamically adjusts DNS resolution based on real-time computing device load conditions. It continuously calculates weighted values based on current network traffic and resource utilization, and dynamically selects the most appropriate computing device for each DNS request. This dynamic approach optimizes load balancing efficiency while using existing DNS infrastructure.
3Measurement precision
If DNS servers store all overlay IP addresses and underlay IP addresses, then name resolution accuracy is improved, but memory requirements and update complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the DNS data storage and management into two distinct layers: the overlay DNS server maintains a lightweight cache containing only overlay IP address to underlay IP address mappings, while the corporate DNS server retains the authoritative source data. This segmentation allows the overlay DNS server to provide accurate name resolution with minimal data storage requirements, avoiding the need to duplicate the entire DNS database.
Solution Approach 2:
The overlay DNS server performs preliminary DNS resolution using its cached mappings before queries reach the corporate DNS server. By pre-caching the essential overlay-to-underlay IP address mappings, the system achieves accurate name resolution for overlay network traffic without requiring the overlay DNS server to store or process the complete DNS database, thus reducing data volume and update complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for performing load balancing over an overlay network is disclosed. The load balancing is performed by a DNS load balancing module communicating to a plurality of computing devices communicatively coupled over the overlay network. The DNS load balancing module calculates and maintains a weighted value of each computing device among the plurality of computing device based on a plurality of parameters. The DNS load balancing module on receiving a DNS lookup request for a resource from a first computing device identifies a list of computing device among the plurality of computing device hosting the requested resource. The DNS load balancing module further performs load balancing by selecting a computing device among a list of computing devices for accessing the resource based on a weighted value calculated.