Overlay Switch Waypoint Chain Routing via VxLAN Header
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing overlay network solutions only provide end-to-end communication between nodes and cannot effectively add a waypoint chain consisting of multiple waypoints to provide additional services, such as network traffic detection and processing.
Innovation Solution
An overlay switch method that determines if a unicast packet needs to pass a waypoint chain, obtains the network addresses of waypoints, and encapsulates the packet into an underlay network packet according to VxLAN specifications, setting the destination IP field to the underlay network address of the next waypoint and using the UDP source port field to indicate the waypoint index, allowing the packet to be sent through a series of waypoints.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If existing overlay network solutions are used for end-to-end communication, then communication simplicity is maintained, but the ability to add waypoint chains for additional services is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds waypoint chain information directly within the VxLAN packet header by utilizing the reserved bits in the VxLAN Header. The Waypoint Chain ID and Waypoint Index are nested within the existing packet structure, allowing multiple waypoints to be specified without adding external routing infrastructure. This enables service chaining functionality while maintaining the simplicity of the overlay network protocol.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the waypoint chain into individual waypoint entries, where each waypoint is represented by a unique index within the chain. The VxLAN packet carries a Waypoint Chain ID that identifies the sequence of waypoints, and a Waypoint Index that specifies the current position in the chain. This segmentation allows flexible routing through multiple service points while keeping the routing logic manageable through structured data organization.
2Adaptability or versatility
If waypoint chains are implemented in overlay networks, then additional services such as traffic detection are enabled, but packet routing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The VxLAN packet itself carries all the routing information needed for waypoint chain traversal. The Waypoint Chain ID and Waypoint Index fields within the packet enable the packet to self-identify its routing path through the service chain without requiring external routing table lookups or complex control plane interactions. Each overlay switch uses these embedded fields to automatically determine the next hop in the waypoint chain.
Solution Approach 2:
The waypoint chain information is pre-configured and embedded in the VxLAN packet header before the packet enters the overlay network. The Waypoint Chain ID and Waypoint Index are set in advance, allowing overlay switches to perform simple table-based forwarding based on these pre-specified values rather than performing complex real-time routing decisions.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses an overlay switch (OSW) and a method used by the same. A received unicast packet needs to pass a waypoint chain including a number of waypoints. A network address of a first waypoint of the waypoint chain and an underlay network address of a second OSW connected to the first waypoint are obtained. In response to a determination that the second OSW is not the first OSW the unicast packet is encapsulated into a first underlay network packet according to a specification of an overlay network. A field of a destination header of the first underlay network packet includes the underlay network address of the second OSW. A source port field of a user datagram protocol (UDP) header is set to indicate a waypoint index included in a corresponding waypoint chain. The first underlay network packet is sent to the second OSW.