Route Reflector Proactive Roaming Updates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional systems experience mobility issues during client device roaming in fabric networks as they only learn of the move when traffic is sent, leading to delayed network convergence and potential disruptions.
Innovation Solution
Integrating a Wireless Local Area Network Controller (WLC) with the fabric network's control plane, specifically by installing application routes and metadata in a Route Reflector to proactively manage client device location changes, ensuring faster network convergence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional systems learn of client device moves only when traffic is sent, then system complexity is reduced, but network convergence speed deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by proactively notifying the route reflector of client device location changes before traffic needs to be routed. The WLC sends location information to the route reflector immediately when a client roams between access points, rather than waiting for traffic to trigger the update. This advance notification enables the fabric network to converge faster on the new location.
2Speed
If proactive location tracking is implemented, then network convergence speed is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless LAN controller serves as an intermediary between access points and the route reflector. It collects location information from access points and forwards it to the route reflector using existing fabric protocols. This intermediary approach enables proactive location tracking without requiring complex modifications to access points or the route reflector themselves.
3Reliability
If location information is proactively communicated, then mobility issues are minimized, but information processing load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by having the WLC monitor client device roaming events and automatically notify the route reflector of location changes. This feedback mechanism ensures that the network maintains accurate location information, enabling fast convergence and minimizing mobility issues without requiring continuous broadcasting or complex tracking algorithms.
Data Source
AI summary
Fast roaming across a network fabric may be provided. A route device may receive location information corresponding to a client device in response to roaming by the client device from a first access point connected to a first network device to a second access point connected to a second network device. The first network device and the second network device may comprise fabric edge nodes on the fabric network. The first network device and the second network device may be ones of a plurality of network devices in the fabric network. On detecting the roaming of the client device, the route device may be updated with the new location, and then the route device may send, to the plurality of network devices in the fabric network, the location information corresponding to the client device.