SDN Control Packet Prioritization via Dedicated Queues
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Solution Overview
Problem
In software defined networks (SDNs), control packets such as BFD and BGP packets face delays and drops due to high network load, leading to unnecessary disruptions and failovers, as they are not prioritized effectively amidst other data packets.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method to identify control packets for fault detection at network interfaces, prioritizing them by allocating specific processing resources such as cores and memory, and separating them into a dedicated control queue to ensure timely processing and prevent delays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If control packets are mixed with data packets in the same network queue, then network interface utilization is improved, but control packet delivery reliability deteriorates due to delays and drops under high load
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments network packets into two distinct categories: control packets and data packets. Control packets are placed in a dedicated control queue while data packets are placed in a data queue, allowing them to be processed separately. This segmentation ensures that control packets are not delayed or dropped due to high data traffic load, thereby maintaining control packet delivery reliability while still utilizing the network interface efficiently.
2Reliability
If control packets are prioritized in a separate queue, then control packet delivery reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional queue management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts control packets from the general data packet flow and places them in a separate control queue. This extraction allows the control queue to be managed independently with appropriate prioritization, ensuring reliable control packet delivery. The separation isolates the complexity of prioritization management to only the control queue, while data packets continue to be processed in the standard data queue without additional complexity.
3Loss of time
If control packets are processed with higher priority, then fault detection timeliness is improved, but processing resource allocation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring the control queue with higher priority status before packets arrive. When control packets are identified, they are automatically directed to this pre-established high-priority queue, ensuring immediate processing and timely fault detection. This preliminary setup eliminates the need for complex real-time resource allocation decisions during packet processing, as the priority structure is already in place.
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein are systems, methods, and software to enhance network traffic management. In one implementation, a method of operating a network interface system on a host computing system includes receiving a plurality of network packets and, for each packet in the plurality of network packets, identifying whether the packet comprises a control packet for fault detection in a software defined network (SDN). The method further includes prioritizing, for processing by a main processing system of the computing system, each packet in the plurality of network packets based on whether the packet comprises a control packet for fault detection in a SDN.