Replication Validation for Cluster Connectivity Fault Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Establishing bi-directional communication between clusters in network computation environments for business continuity and disaster recovery is challenging due to variability in network environments, including different Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) values, tunneling, firewall rules, and VLAN configurations, which complicates replication validation and fault detection.

Innovation Solution

A method for performing replication validation checks among components of a replication network, including intra-cluster and inter-cluster checks, to ensure connectivity and detect faults, with the ability to generate user-friendly output and automatically update MTU values to resolve connectivity issues, using techniques such as ping checks and fping commands.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If bi-directional communication is established between all nodes of one cluster with all nodes of the peer cluster (many-to-many topology), then replication validation and business continuity are improved, but network complexity and difficulty of detecting and measuring connectivity issues increase due to variable MTU values, tunneling, firewall rules, and VLAN configurations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereplication validation reliabilityVSAvoidconnectivity fault detection difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces intermediary validation components (validation agents or services) that act as mediators between cluster nodes to simplify fault detection. These intermediaries centralize the validation process, reducing the complexity of direct many-to-many node communication while maintaining comprehensive validation coverage across the replication network.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically adjusts network parameters (such as MTU values) during validation processes to accommodate variable network conditions. By automatically modifying these parameters and re-testing connectivity, the system can detect faults that would otherwise be masked by parameter mismatches, thereby improving detection capability without requiring manual network configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If comprehensive replication validation checks are performed among all cluster components, then connectivity fault detection is improved, but validation time and processing overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnectivity validation precisionVSAvoidvalidation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary validation checks on critical path components before executing comprehensive validation. By pre-assessing gateway connectivity, route availability, and essential node reachability, the system can identify obvious faults early and potentially skip more time-consuming validation steps, thereby reducing overall validation time while maintaining detection precision for actual faults.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a tiered validation approach where essential connectivity checks are performed on all nodes, but more extensive validation (such as application-layer testing or detailed packet traversal) is performed only on nodes or paths that fail initial checks. This partial action approach maintains high measurement precision for critical paths while reducing time loss on already-functional connections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Adaptability or versatility

If automatic MTU value updates are implemented to resolve connectivity issues, then network adaptability is improved, but risk of incorrect configuration and system instability increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork environment adaptabilityVSAvoidnetwork configuration reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where validation results are continuously monitored and used to inform MTU configuration decisions. The system tests connectivity with different MTU values, observes the outcomes, and only applies configuration changes when validation confirms improvement. This closed-loop feedback ensures that automatic updates enhance adaptability while maintaining reliability through empirical verification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary validation and risk assessment before applying automatic MTU configuration changes. By pre-testing proposed MTU values in a controlled manner and validating that changes improve rather than degrade connectivity, the system prevents incorrect configurations from being applied, thereby reducing the risk of system instability while maintaining network adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Data Source

PatentUS11366828B1Replication validation

Publication Date: 2022.06.21 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

This disclosure describes techniques for validating a replication network. Validation of a replication network may include checking connectivity among components of the replication network, such as paired clusters. The techniques include performing intra-cluster and inter-cluster replication validation checks. The replication validation checks may generate replication validation output. Based at least in part of the replication validation output, user interface data may be sent to a display device for presentation to a user. In this way, connectivity faults within the replication network may be resolved.