Routed Split Multi-Link Trunking Resiliency for Wireless LAN
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network overlay models for integrating Wireless networks with wired infrastructure face challenges in providing resiliency, load-sharing, and quick recovery, especially in Wireless LAN Split-plane environments, where conventional protocols like VRRP struggle with point-to-point tunnels and additional protocol dependencies.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of Routed Split Multi-Link Trunking (RSMLT) in wireless local area network split-plane environments, where network switches learn and synchronize data, load-share tunnel packets, detect failures, and establish new access tunnels to ensure redundancy and fast traffic recovery, eliminating the need for timer-dependent switchovers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional VRRP protocol is used for wireless network integration, then protocol compatibility is maintained, but resiliency and quick recovery are insufficient due to timer-dependent switchovers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-establishing access tunnels from the access point to both network switches before any failure occurs. The switches learn and synchronize each other's MAC addresses and tunnel endpoints in advance, so that when a failure occurs, traffic can immediately redirect to the surviving switch without timer-dependent delays. This eliminates the need for wait-to-detect-then-redirect sequences in conventional VRRP.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the access point maintains parallel tunnels to multiple network switches, and the switches share tunnel endpoint information through MAC address learning. This intermediary tunnel architecture allows seamless failover without direct dependency on VRRP timers, as the tunnel itself serves as the failover mechanism rather than a protocol-based switchover.
2Reliability
If traffic is concentrated on a single alternate port during failover, then connectivity is restored, but the alternate port becomes overloaded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the traffic load across multiple network switches through parallel access tunnels. Instead of concentrating all failover traffic on a single alternate port, the system segments traffic distribution by maintaining tunnels to multiple switches (switch1 and switch2), allowing traffic to be distributed across multiple paths and reducing the burden on any single port.
3Adaptability or versatility
If access tunnels are established to multiple network switches, then load-sharing and redundancy are improved, but tunnel management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the network switches to automatically learn each other's MAC addresses and tunnel endpoint information without manual configuration. The switches autonomously synchronize this information and update their forwarding tables, eliminating the need for complex manual tunnel management while maintaining load-sharing capabilities across multiple switches.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, apparatus and computer program product for performing Routed Split Multi-Link Trunking Resiliency for Wireless Local Area Network split-plane environments is presented. A first network switch learns first data associated with a second network switch and the first network switch terminates an Access Tunnel (AT). The said second network switch learns second data associated with said first network switch. The first and second data are synchronized between the first network switch and the second network switch. The first network switch and the second network load sharing tunnel data packets. The second network switch forwards tunnel control packets received by the second network switch to the first network. A failure relating to said first network switch is detected and a new AT is established with the second network switch.