RCF Program Sandbox for Routing Tests Without BGP Setup
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Solution Overview
Problem
The overhead of setting up Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) or similar agents to test and configure Routing Control Function (RCF) functions is a barrier to learning, writing, and testing RCF functions, as users need to understand the mechanics of these protocols.
Innovation Solution
A sandbox execution environment is provided that simulates a production network environment, allowing users to develop, test, and debug RCF functions without the need to set up a live network deployment, by providing user-provided network paths and attributes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If users set up BGP or similar agents to test RCF functions, then they can evaluate their routing policies, but the overhead of setting up these protocols creates a barrier to learning and testing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a sandbox environment that copies the essential functionality of a production network environment, allowing users to test RCF functions with simulated BGP paths and attributes without needing actual network infrastructure. This copying approach provides the necessary evaluation capability while eliminating the complexity of real protocol setup.
Solution Approach 2:
The sandbox environment acts as an intermediary layer between the user and the actual network infrastructure. It provides simulated network paths and attributes that mediate the testing process, allowing users to evaluate RCF functions without directly interacting with complex BGP protocol mechanics.
2Measurement precision
If users configure a live network deployment to test RCF functions, then they can obtain realistic network paths, but this increases setup time and reduces productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The sandbox environment performs preliminary action by pre-configuring simulated network paths, attributes, and BGP-like data structures before the user begins testing. This eliminates the need for users to perform time-consuming live network configuration while still providing realistic test data for evaluating RCF functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates copies of realistic network paths and attributes within the sandbox environment, derived from actual network data structures. These copies provide measurement precision comparable to live environments while enabling rapid setup and iteration, thus improving development productivity.
3Reliability
If users learn the mechanics of BGP protocols to test RCF functions, then they can properly configure test environments, but this increases the learning curve and reduces ease of operation
Solution Approach 1:
The sandbox environment serves as an intermediary that abstracts away the complex BGP protocol mechanics from the user. It handles the protocol-level configurations automatically while providing a simplified interface for users to focus on RCF function development, thereby maintaining test correctness without requiring deep protocol knowledge.
Solution Approach 2:
The sandbox environment performs self-service by automatically configuring the necessary BGP-like test data, paths, and attributes when the user launches it. The system handles the complex protocol setup tasks autonomously, eliminating the need for users to manually learn and configure BGP mechanics while ensuring proper test environment setup.
Data Source
AI summary
A sandbox execution environment is described. The sandbox environment simulates the execution environment of a live network device. The sandbox environment allows a user to write and test RCF (routing control function) functions without having to configure a device for testing purposes. The sandbox environment accepts global variables to initialize the context for executing the user-provided RCF functions such as path attributes and environmental variables.