SDN Controller Automates LAG Member Signaling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In traditional computer networks, managing large-scale network changes, such as adding or removing link aggregation group (LAG) members, is complex and costly due to the need for manual configuration of physical and wavelength assignments at the transport layer, leading to potential misconfiguration errors.
Innovation Solution
A transport software-defined networking (SDN) controller determines physical and logical topologies based on adjacency discovery messages and sets up or removes physical layer connections to implement network layer LAG link member additions or removals automatically, using advertisement messages to map logical to physical topologies and assign necessary resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual configuration of physical and wavelength assignments at the transport layer is used for managing LAG members, then network control flexibility is maintained, but management complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
An SDN controller is introduced as an intermediary between network operators and the transport network infrastructure. The controller receives LAG member addition/removal requests, automatically determines the required physical layer connections using advertisement messages and topology data, and configures the transport network elements accordingly. This mediator eliminates the need for manual physical configuration while maintaining network control flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service automation where the SDN controller autonomously performs the entire LAG member management process. Upon receiving a high-layer LAG request, the controller automatically parses advertisement messages, identifies appropriate physical ports and wavelength assignments, and configures the transport network without human intervention. The system serves itself by using its own stored topology information to make configuration decisions.
2Productivity
If manual configuration methods are used for LAG member changes, then configuration accuracy can be controlled, but time consumption and productivity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-collecting and storing advertisement messages from physical layer network elements, which contain information about available ports, wavelengths, and connectivity. When a LAG member change is requested, the SDN controller immediately queries this pre-collected data to determine the correct configuration, eliminating the time required for manual discovery and configuration while ensuring accuracy through automated decision-making.
3Adaptability or versatility
If decentralized control protocols are used in traditional routers, then network autonomy is maintained, but control and management complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control plane functions are extracted from individual routers and switches and centralized in the SDN controller. The controller takes out the intelligence for determining physical layer connections, wavelength assignments, and LAG member configurations from distributed network elements and consolidates it in a central location. This extraction maintains network flexibility through centralized policy control while reducing the complexity of individual network devices.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a transport software defined networking (SDN) controller, comprising a receiver configured to receive advertisement messages from physical layer NEs, each advertisement message indicating a mapping between a physical layer network elements (NE) port and an adjacent network layer NE, and a processor coupled to the receiver. The SDC controller is configured to determine a relationship between a logical topology and a physical topology, inspect a network layer link aggregation group (LAG) request, the request indicating a first network layer NE is requesting modification of a LAG with a second network layer NE, and modify a physical layer connection between a physical layer NE adjacent to the first network layer NE and a second physical layer NE adjacent to the second network layer NE to implement the LAG modification based on the relationship between the physical topology and the logical topology.