Provider Edge Synchronizer Using Lookup Tables for Redundant Gateways
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Solution Overview
Problem
Deploying redundant centralized gateways in an overlay network leads to synchronization difficulties, causing traffic loss due to incorrect mapping replies among gateways.
Innovation Solution
A provider edge synchronizer uses lookup tables to maintain mappings for hosts, generating responses based on these tables and sending them to gateways, and updating tables with protocol advertisements to synchronize redundant centralized gateways.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If redundant centralized gateways are deployed in an overlay network, then resiliency is improved, but synchronization difficulties arise causing traffic loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a controller as an intermediary component that mediates between redundant centralized gateways and hosts. The controller receives mapping requests from gateways, queries hosts for mappings, and distributes the obtained mappings to all relevant gateways. This intermediary role resolves the synchronization problem by centralizing the mapping information distribution process, ensuring all gateways receive consistent mapping data without directly interacting with each other or the host.
2Loss of information
If a redundant centralized gateway requests a mapping from a host, then the mapping can be obtained, but the host may send the reply to another gateway causing traffic loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the controller receives mapping requests from gateways, queries the host, receives the mapping response, and then distributes this mapping information to all gateways that need it. The controller maintains knowledge of which gateways are serving which hosts and ensures mapping information is feedback to the appropriate gateways. This prevents the problem of mappings being sent to wrong gateways because the controller controls the distribution based on current gateway-host associations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple gateways have different mappings for the same host, then each gateway operates independently, but traffic is dropped due to wrong gateway receiving the mapping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the mapping information storage and distribution function into a centralized controller that serves all redundant gateways. Instead of each gateway maintaining independent mappings that may diverge, the controller maintains a unified view of host mappings and distributes this consolidated information to all gateways. This merging approach ensures mapping consistency across all gateways while preserving their operational independence for traffic forwarding, as they all receive the same authoritative mapping information from the controller.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the disclosure are directed to a provider edge synchronizer for coordinating entries in an overlay network. The provider edge synchronizer can determine and maintain mappings for hosts in the overlay network using lookup tables. When a provider edge in the overlay network sends a request, the provider edge synchronizer can generate a response based on the lookup tables and can then send the response to all gateways, particularly redundant centralized gateways.