SDN Controller Priority Mapping for VXLAN Packet Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
In cloud computing centers using SDN and VXLAN, the limited processing capacity of switches restricts the number and size of VLAN instances, leading to packet loss and poor user experience due to unequal prioritization of service types across virtual machines.
Innovation Solution
The cloud management platform maintains a mapping between virtual machine identifiers and forwarding priorities, dynamically updating these mappings based on tenant and service types to ensure that packets from higher-priority services are preferentially transmitted, using the SDN controller to generate and distribute flow entries with differentiated forwarding priorities within the VXLAN network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the number and size of VLAN instances are increased to meet cloud computing demands, then the network capacity and isolation capability are improved, but the processing capacity of switches becomes insufficient leading to packet loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an SDN controller as an intermediary between the virtual machines and the physical switches. The controller maintains flow tables with forwarding priorities and intercepts packets to perform priority-based forwarding decisions, thereby relieving the processing burden from physical switches while preventing packet loss in large-scale VLAN environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a new dimension of priority-based forwarding by introducing flow tables with priority fields in the SDN controller. This creates an additional layer of packet handling beyond traditional VLAN switching, enabling differentiated service quality without increasing switch processing capacity.
2Device complexity
If all packets are treated equally without prioritization, then the network device processing is simplified, but service quality becomes unequal leading to poor user experience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments packet forwarding into two distinct functions: priority determination performed by the SDN controller based on flow table matching, and actual packet forwarding performed by physical switches. This segmentation allows complex priority-based processing to be separated from simple high-speed forwarding, maintaining low device complexity while improving service quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different forwarding priorities to different packets based on their matching flow entries. Instead of uniform processing, each packet receives localized quality treatment according to its specific flow requirements, enabling differentiated service quality while keeping the overall system relatively simple through centralized control.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of transmitting a packet, a controller and a cloud management platform are provided. According to an example of the method, the controller may receive a packet from a virtual switch; obtain a forwarding priority corresponding to the packet; and generate a flow entry corresponding to the packet, wherein the flow entry is used to perform encapsulation of a specified type on a packet matching the flow entry and add the forwarding priority into the encapsulated packet; and distribute the flow entry to the virtual switch so that the virtual switch is capable of sending the packet using the flow entry.