SDN Controller Mapping Virtual to Physical Network Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current software-defined network (SDN) implementations face challenges in establishing physical forwarding paths for virtual machines due to the lack of specific physical network information, making self-service provisioning and on-demand adjustments difficult in cloud computing environments.
Innovation Solution
The SDN controller receives virtual network information from a cloud computing platform and acquires physical network information, including a correspondence between virtual machines and top-of-rack (TOR) switches, using Link Layer Discovery Protocol (LLDP) packets to establish a mapping between virtual and physical networks, thereby enabling self-service provisioning and on-demand adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual configuration is performed by maintenance personnel on the SDN controller, then the SDN network can be configured, but the workload is heavy and self-service provisioning cannot be supported
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service provisioning by allowing virtual machines to automatically discover and register their physical network information through LLDP packets. The SDN controller automatically processes this information to establish forwarding paths without requiring manual configuration by maintenance personnel, thus supporting self-service provisioning and on-demand adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by having servers pre-configure LLDP agents that automatically send discovery packets when virtual machines are deployed. This preliminary automated information collection eliminates the need for subsequent manual configuration, significantly reducing workload and enabling rapid provisioning.
2Device complexity
If virtual network information is sent without physical network information, then virtual network management is simplified, but physical forwarding paths cannot be established
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces LLDP packets as an intermediary mechanism that carries physical network information from servers to the SDN controller. This intermediary automatically transmits the necessary physical network details (such as TOR switch connections) without complicating the virtual network management interface, thus maintaining simplicity while enabling forwarding path establishment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments information collection into separate automated components: virtual network information from the cloud platform and physical network information from LLDP packets. This segmentation allows independent collection and processing of each type of information, simplifying management while ensuring both are available for complete forwarding path establishment.
3Extent of automation
If LLDP protocol is used for automatic discovery, then self-service provisioning is enabled, but protocol load on servers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by implementing LLDP agents only on specific servers that host virtual machines requiring SDN integration, rather than on all servers in the infrastructure. This selective deployment provides the necessary automation for provisioning while minimizing the overall protocol load across the server fleet.
Data Source
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AI summary
This application discloses a method for implementing a software-defined network SDN, including: receiving, by an SDN controller, virtual network information sent by a cloud computing platform, where the virtual network information includes a correspondence between information about a VM and information about a server running the VM; acquiring, by the SDN controller, physical network information, where the physical network information includes a correspondence between information about a TOR switch and the information about the server; and acquiring, by the SDN controller, a correspondence between the information about the VM and the information about the TOR switch according to the virtual network information and the physical network information, so as to establish a physical forwarding path on a physical network for the virtual machine, implement mapping from a virtual network to the physical network, and better support, on the cloud computing platform, self-service provisioning and on-demand adjustment of the SDN controller.