SDN Controller Load Reduction via Switch ARP Flooding

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Solution Overview

Problem

In SDN-based networks, broadcasting ARP requests using a centralized controller leads to a heavy load on the controller and wastage of transmission resources, causing the controller to become a processing bottleneck as the network scale expands and ARP requests increase.

Innovation Solution

Implementing an SDN-based ARP method where the controller instructs switches to flood ARP requests when the entry does not exist locally, using preconfigured flow table rules to broadcast the requests between switches, reducing the need for packet-out messages from the controller and minimizing transmission resources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the centralized controller broadcasts ARP requests to the entire network, then the ARP request can reach all hosts, but the controller becomes a processing bottleneck and transmission resources are wasted

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveARP request deliveryVSAvoidcontroller processing capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the ARP request broadcasting function from the centralized controller and distributes it to multiple switches. Each switch independently forwards ARP requests to its connected hosts, eliminating the bottleneck at the controller while ensuring reliable delivery throughout the network.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces flow table rules as intermediaries that enable switches to automatically forward ARP requests without requiring controller intervention. The flow table acts as a pre-configured mediator that handles the forwarding logic, reducing the controller's processing load while maintaining reliable ARP request delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the controller sends packet-out messages to switches for ARP request forwarding, then ARP requests can be forwarded correctly, but transmission resources are consumed and controller load increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveARP request forwardingVSAvoidtransmission resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring flow table rules in switches before ARP requests need to be forwarded. These rules are installed in advance, enabling switches to automatically forward ARP requests without requiring real-time packet-out messages from the controller, thereby conserving transmission resources and reducing controller load.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If ARP requests are broadcast to the entire network, then all hosts can receive the request, but network bandwidth is consumed unnecessarily

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveARP request reachabilityVSAvoidnetwork bandwidth consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by enabling each switch to independently forward ARP requests only to its locally connected hosts based on pre-configured flow table rules. This localized forwarding approach ensures that ARP requests reach all necessary hosts while minimizing unnecessary network bandwidth consumption compared to controller-initiated broadcasting to the entire network.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS10652142B2SDN-based ARP implementation method and apparatus

Publication Date: 2020.05.12 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD

AI summary

Embodiments of the present disclosure disclose an SDN-based ARP implementation method and apparatus. The method includes: receiving, by a controller, an ARP request sent by a first switch, and when it is determined that no ARP entry corresponding to the ARP request exists locally, sending, to the first switch, an instruction configured to instruct the first switch to flood the ARP request. In this way, the ARP request can be broadcast to an entire network by means of message forwarding between switches.