Overlay Multicast Orchestration for SD-WAN Bandwidth Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multicast implementations in large scale software-defined branch deployments are resource-intensive and inefficient, consuming excessive bandwidth and resources due to decentralized approaches like PIM, which burden network nodes with state information management and route computation.
Innovation Solution
A centralized overlay multicast orchestrator manages multicast traffic by collecting and maintaining state information of overlay network nodes, reducing the need for extensive communication and resource consumption by delegating state information maintenance and multicast table computation to a central node.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a decentralized PIM-based multicast approach is used, then multicast traffic can be routed using traditional IP routing protocols, but network nodes are burdened with excessive state information and bandwidth consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the multicast state information management from individual network nodes and centralizes it at the SD-WAN edge devices. The orchestrator collects state information from edge devices rather than from every network node, removing the burden of state information maintenance from intermediate network nodes while preserving multicast routing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces SD-WAN edge devices as intermediary components between the orchestrator and the underlying network nodes. These edge devices aggregate multicast state information and present it to the orchestrator, acting as a mediator that reduces the amount of state information that needs to be communicated and processed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional PIM multicast is implemented, then multicast groups can be formed with dynamic member joining and leaving, but control plane information must be broadcast to a wide array of network nodes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the control plane information broadcasting function from the traditional PIM protocol and replaces it with a centralized state information collection mechanism. Instead of broadcasting control plane information to all network nodes, the orchestrator collects state information only from SD-WAN edge devices, significantly reducing bandwidth consumption while maintaining multicast group dynamics.
3Quantity of substance
If a centralized approach is used to manage multicast, then resource consumption at network nodes is reduced, but the central node must process large amounts of state information from numerous receivers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces SD-WAN edge devices as intermediaries between receivers and the orchestrator. These edge devices aggregate state information from multiple receivers and present consolidated information to the orchestrator, reducing the processing burden on the central node while maintaining centralized management benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a hierarchical architecture where SD-WAN edge devices perform local state information aggregation and filtering before communicating with the orchestrator. This local processing quality reduces the amount of information that reaches the central orchestrator, balancing the distribution of processing responsibilities.
4Ease of manufacture
If decentralized PIM is used, then multicast routing is simple to implement, but a large number of intermediate network nodes must forward traffic and maintain state information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the multicast state information maintenance function from intermediate network nodes and transfers it to SD-WAN edge devices and the orchestrator. This extraction reduces the resource efficiency problems at network nodes while the orchestrator maintains centralized control for efficient resource management.
Data Source
AI summary
Examples described herein relate to a centralized overlay multicast orchestrator in a software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN). The overlay multicast orchestrator receives and maintains state information from multicast agents deployed on overlay network nodes. Based on the state information, the overlay multicast orchestrator identifies a first set of overlay network nodes connected to a source and a second set of overlay network nodes connected to hosts requesting a multicast stream. The overlay multicast orchestrator computes and distributes a multicast tree representing a path for transmission of the multicast stream to the requesting hosts.