Peer Discovery for Disconnected SDN Nodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
In Software Defined Networks (SD-WANs), network management systems face challenges in identifying and reconnecting disconnected nodes when control plane connectivity is lost, as existing methods rely on control plane connections for health data monitoring and debugging.
Innovation Solution
A panic peer discovery process is implemented, where network management appliances detect lost connectivity and use peer edge network devices or controller appliances to receive health reports, allowing for debugging and reconnection of inaccessible nodes through alternative data plane connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If control plane connections are used for monitoring node health, then network management can effectively identify disconnected nodes, but connectivity loss prevents health data retrieval and node reconnection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a data plane connection as an intermediary communication channel between network management appliances and edge devices. When the control plane connection is lost, the data plane serves as a mediator to transmit health data and enable node identification and reconnection, thus resolving the information loss problem during control plane disconnection.
2Ease of repair
If control plane connections are used for node monitoring, then network administrators can debug and fix disconnected nodes, but connection loss eliminates this capability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by establishing data plane connections before control plane disconnection occurs. Health data collection and node identification processes are prepared in advance through the data plane, so when control plane connection is lost, the network management system can immediately utilize the pre-established data plane connection to retrieve health data and begin debugging without time loss.
3Device complexity
If only control plane connections are used for communication, then protocol implementation is simplified, but alternative communication paths are unavailable during disconnection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing the data plane connection to serve multiple functions: it acts as a primary communication channel for data transmission and simultaneously serves as a backup channel for health data retrieval and node management when the control plane connection is lost. This multi-functionality provides communication path flexibility without significantly increasing protocol complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure is directed to a peer node discovery process whereby a network management node can discover peers of inaccessible nodes that have lost connectivity to the network management node over the control plane and receive health report of the inaccessible nodes via the discovered peers. In one example, a method includes detecting a loss of connectivity to a network node; based on a type of the network node, performing one of a first process or a second process to obtain a health report of the network node, the first process and the second process including identification of at least one corresponding peer node from which the health report of the network node is to be received; and analyzing the health report to determine root cause of the loss of connectivity.