Relay Device Trunk Group Control for Port Utilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
In existing communication systems, configuring multiple trunks between external communication apparatuses requires a large number of stack links, leading to inefficient use of physical ports on relay devices, as broadcast packets may be forwarded multiple times unintentionally through unintended paths.
Innovation Solution
A control apparatus that manages trunk group information and determines representative ports for each trunk, setting specific control information to forward packets received by representative or non-representative ports to designated forwarding destinations, thereby optimizing packet forwarding without increasing the number of stack links.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple trunks are configured between external communication apparatuses using stack links, then packet forwarding control is improved, but the number of physical ports required increases, reducing port utilization efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple trunks share common stack links between relay devices, combining the port resources needed for multiple trunks into a single physical link infrastructure. This allows multiple virtual logical links to coexist without requiring separate physical connections for each trunk.
Solution Approach 2:
The stack link serves multiple functions by being shared among multiple trunks. A single stack link configuration enables multiple trunks to operate simultaneously, making the stack link a universal resource that supports multiple packet forwarding paths without requiring dedicated ports for each trunk.
2Adaptability or versatility
If stack links are increased to support multiple trunks, then trunk configuration flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments trunk configuration into two independent parts: stack link configuration (physical layer) and trunk configuration (logical layer). This segmentation allows multiple trunks to be configured using a single stack link by managing trunk information separately, reducing the complexity of coordinating multiple stack links.
Solution Approach 2:
The control apparatus acts as an intermediary that manages trunk group information and coordinates packet forwarding across multiple trunks sharing a stack link. It determines representative ports and configures forwarding rules, abstracting the complexity of multi-trunk management from the relay devices.
3Ease of operation
If broadcast packets are forwarded using traditional flow entries in each relay device, then local forwarding control is simplified, but unintended packet forwarding paths occur, reducing forwarding accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The control apparatus receives feedback about packet forwarding status and uses this information to determine appropriate representative ports and configure forwarding rules. This feedback mechanism ensures that broadcast packets are forwarded accurately through the correct paths while maintaining simple local forwarding control at each relay device.
Solution Approach 2:
The control apparatus performs preliminary actions by pre-determining representative ports and configuring forwarding rules before packet forwarding occurs. This preliminary configuration ensures that when broadcast packets arrive, they are forwarded through the correct paths without requiring complex real-time decisions at each relay device.
Data Source
AI summary
A control apparatus sets, in a relay device: first control information that forwards, when a packet for flooding is received by a representative port of a trunk, the packet to a prescribed forwarding destination port and to a representative port of another trunk; second control information that executes, when the packet for flooding is received by a nonrepresentative port of the truck, forwarding of the packet to a stack link port associated with the same trunk group as the trunk of the port that received the packet for flooding, and forwarding to a nonrepresentative port of another trunk in the trunk group; and third control information that forwards, when the packet for flooding is received by the stack link port, the packet to a prescribed forwarding destination port and to a representative port of a trunk not belonging to the same trunk group.