SDN Controller Packet Tracing via Intermediary Aggregation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In packet-switched communications networks, tracing packets and their paths through different forwarding devices is challenging due to independent local forwarding decisions, making it difficult to maintain a consistent path between source and destination devices.
Innovation Solution
A Software-Defined Networking (SDN) environment is implemented, where an SDN controller device configures forwarding devices to generate trace information, including header and payload data, which is then aggregated to provide a global view of packet forwarding, enabling network debugging, monitoring, and security analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If forwarding devices operate independently and make local forwarding decisions, then forwarding autonomy and decision speed are improved, but packet path traceability and path consistency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an SDN controller as an intermediary between forwarding devices and the control plane. The controller collects packet trace information from multiple forwarding devices and correlates it to reconstruct complete packet paths. This mediator enables path traceability without requiring forwarding devices to change their independent operation mode, thus preserving forwarding speed while solving the information loss problem.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges trace information from multiple independent forwarding devices into a unified packet path view. By combining local forwarding decisions from different devices and correlating them through packet identifiers, the system reconstructs complete end-to-end paths, transforming fragmented local information into global path visibility.
2Ease of operation
If forwarding devices operate independently, then device simplicity and ease of operation are improved, but network-wide packet tracing capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The SDN controller serves as an intermediary that handles the complexity of packet tracing. Forwarding devices remain simple and easy to operate, while the controller performs the complex task of collecting, correlating, and analyzing trace information from multiple devices to provide network-wide packet tracing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the packet tracing function into two parts: local trace information collection at forwarding devices (simple operation) and global path reconstruction at the SDN controller (complex analysis). This segmentation allows forwarding devices to remain simple while enabling comprehensive network-wide tracing through centralized processing.
3Adaptability or versatility
If paths between source and destination may vary for each packet and direction, then network flexibility and load balancing are improved, but path consistency and traceability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by having forwarding devices report packet trace information back to the SDN controller. This feedback mechanism provides the controller with real-time information about actual packet paths taken, enabling it to correlate traces and reconstruct complete paths even when packets take different routes, thus maintaining path information consistency despite path variability.
Solution Approach 2:
The SDN controller acts as an intermediary that reconciles the variability in packet paths. By collecting trace information from all forwarding devices and correlating it using packet identifiers, the controller maintains consistent path information in the face of dynamic path selection, enabling traceability despite network flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
An example method to perform packet tracing in a Software-Defined Networking (SDN) environment is provided. The SDN environment comprises an SDN controller device and a plurality of forwarding devices configurable by the SDN controller device. The method may comprise the SDN controller device configuring the plurality of forwarding devices to generate trace information of packets associated with a communication flow in the SDN environment; and receiving trace information of packets associated with the communication flow. Based on the trace information, the SDN controller device may generate aggregated trace information by identifying, from header information and payload information of the packets, particular packets associated with the communication flow that are processed by one of the plurality of forwarding devices, or a particular packet associated with the communication flow that is processed by at least two of the plurality of forwarding devices, or both.