Protected Virtual Link Aggregation Switching

Solution Overview

Problem

Current virtual link aggregations in networks face inefficiencies in protection switching, leading to overhead in relearning information and reconstructing spanning trees upon link or switch failures, which burdens network switches and disrupts data flow.

Innovation Solution

A protected virtual link aggregation system is implemented, comprising an active aggregate link group and a standby group, where the standby group takes over if the active group becomes unavailable, allowing seamless traffic continuation without triggering information flush or spanning tree reconstruction, thus maintaining network stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple switches operate in conjunction to provide protection switching, then redundancy and high availability are improved, but the switch is burdened with additional overhead for relearning information and reconstructing spanning tree

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection switching capabilityVSAvoidswitch overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the virtual link aggregation into multiple independent aggregate link groups (first aggregate link group and second aggregate link group), where each group can operate independently. This segmentation allows the switch to maintain protection switching capability while reducing overhead, as the spanning tree needs to be reconstructed only for the affected group rather than the entire virtual link aggregation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention implements preliminary action by pre-configuring both active and standby aggregate link groups before any failure occurs. The standby group is prepared in advance with all necessary forwarding information, so when a failure happens, the switch can immediately switch to the standby group without needing to relearn information or perform complex spanning tree reconstruction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If virtual link aggregation aggregates links to multiple switches, then load balancing and redundancy are improved, but information must be flushed and relearned upon failure, increasing overhead

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveload balancing capabilityVSAvoidinformation relearning time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention implements preliminary action by pre-configuring both active and standby aggregate link groups before any failure occurs. The standby group is prepared in advance with all necessary forwarding information, so when a failure happens, the switch can immediately switch to the standby group without needing to relearn information or perform complex spanning tree reconstruction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the operational state parameter of the aggregate link groups dynamically. Instead of flushing and relearning information upon failure, the system changes the active/standby state parameter between groups, allowing seamless failover while maintaining all learned information in the standby group.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If a single logical channel is maintained across multiple switches, then network simplicity is improved, but the system cannot tolerate link or node failures without disrupting data flow

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork configuration simplicityVSAvoidfailure tolerance

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the virtual link aggregation into multiple independent aggregate link groups (first aggregate link group and second aggregate link group), where each group can operate independently. This segmentation allows the switch to maintain protection switching capability while reducing overhead, as the spanning tree needs to be reconstructed only for the affected group rather than the entire virtual link aggregation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges multiple physical aggregate link groups into a single logical virtual link aggregation that operates as one logical channel. This merging provides simplicity in network configuration and management while the underlying segmented structure ensures reliability through protection switching capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS9660939B2Protection switching over a virtual link aggregation

Publication Date: 2017.05.23 AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL SALES PTE LTD

AI summary

One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch. The switch comprises one or more ports and a link management module. The link management module operates a first aggregate link group as an active aggregate link group of a protected virtual link aggregation. This protected virtual link aggregation operates as a single logical channel. An aggregate link group comprises a plurality of logically aggregated links. The first aggregate link group, which represents the logical channel, comprises at least a first port of the one or more ports of the switch. The link management module also operates a second aggregate link group of the protected virtual link aggregation as a standby for the first aggregate link group. The second aggregate link group comprises at least a second port of the one or more ports of the switch. Forwarding is enabled via the first port and disabled via the second port.