Relay Device Port Mirroring Bandwidth Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
In communication networks with redundant transfer paths, port mirroring can lead to excessive bandwidth increase, causing either the mirrored frame or normal frames to be discarded, which hampers accurate diagnosis and normal communication.
Innovation Solution
A relay device with determining, copying, and selecting units that assess traffic on redundant ports and selectively outputs mirrored frames from the port with lesser traffic, preventing bandwidth overload by choosing the appropriate redundant port for mirror frame transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If port mirroring is implemented to enable accurate diagnosis, then measurement precision is improved, but bandwidth in the transfer path is excessively increased causing frames to be discarded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the transfer path by selecting specific redundant ports for mirror frame transmission rather than using all ports. The determining unit identifies which redundant ports should carry mirror frames based on traffic conditions, effectively dividing the bandwidth allocation between normal frames and mirror frames across different ports.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the treatment of different redundant ports. Not all redundant ports are treated equally - some are selected for mirror frame transmission while others handle normal traffic. The selecting unit makes port-specific decisions based on local traffic conditions to optimize both diagnosis accuracy and bandwidth utilization.
2Device complexity
If mirror frames are output to the same transfer path as normal frames, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability is worsened due to frame discarding from over-bandwidth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic port selection based on real-time traffic conditions. The determining unit continuously monitors traffic on redundant ports and dynamically decides which ports should transmit mirror frames. This dynamic approach ensures that mirror frames are always sent through ports with sufficient available bandwidth, preventing frame discarding while maintaining system simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the determining unit monitors traffic conditions on redundant ports and uses this information to make informed decisions about mirror frame transmission. This feedback loop ensures that mirror frames are only transmitted when bandwidth conditions are appropriate, maintaining reliability without requiring complex static configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
A relay device is usable as one of a plurality of relay devices providing a communication network. Each of the plurality of relay devices has a plurality of ports including at least two redundant ports. A relay device includes a determining unit, a copying unit and a selecting unit. The selecting unit is configured to compare traffics of the at least two redundant ports when the determining unit determines that a port mirroring instruction transmitted from a diagnostic device is received by any of the at least two redundant ports. The selecting unit is configured to select an output redundant port to output a mirror frame copied by the copying unit based on a comparison result among the at least two redundant ports, and output the mirror frame from the output redundant port to transfer the mirror frame to the diagnostic device.