Network Device Event Manager for SDN Control Plane Tolerance
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Solution Overview
Problem
In software-defined networks, network devices that become non-responsive to control plane interactions are often perceived as failed by peer devices, leading to unnecessary disruptions and loss of network bandwidth, as peer devices take remedial action by removing them from routing tables, even though they can still forward data packets in the data plane.
Innovation Solution
A system and method where a network device event manager temporarily withdraws a network device from control plane interactions during events, allowing it to remain responsive in the data plane, and then restores it, enabling peer devices to continue forwarding data packets without taking remedial action, thus maintaining network stability and bandwidth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a network device becomes non-responsive to control plane interactions during an event, then the network device can perform event-related operations without control plane interference, but peer devices perceive the network device as failed and take remedial action by removing it from routing tables, causing unnecessary network disruptions and bandwidth loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an event manager as an intermediary component that mediates between the control plane and the network device during events. The event manager receives control plane messages, determines whether the network device is undergoing an event, and if so, generates synthetic responses to maintain the illusion of control plane responsiveness. This intermediary prevents peer devices from perceiving the network device as failed, thereby avoiding unnecessary remedial actions and network disruptions while allowing the network device to complete its event operations
2Productivity
If a network device is non-responsive to control plane interactions, then it can focus resources on data plane operations and event processing, but control plane messages accumulate and cause delays in configuration updates and routing information propagation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the event manager proactively monitor for event conditions and preemptively generate synthetic control plane responses before the network device actually becomes non-responsive. When an event is detected, the event manager immediately begins synthesizing control plane messages, ensuring that control plane interactions appear continuous and responsive. This preliminary and proactive approach prevents control plane message accumulation and maintains timely configuration updates and routing information propagation while the network device processes data plane operations and events
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects and implementations of the present disclosure are directed to methods and systems for a network tolerant to a network device that is temporarily absent from the control plane. In one aspect, in general, the system includes an event manager configured to send, to a controller configured to exchange control messages with a network device, a first request to temporarily withdraw the network device from control plane interactions. The event manager then triggers an event at the network device during which the network device is non-responsive to control plane interactions. After determining that the event has completed, the event manager sends the controller a second request to restore the network device. The controller is configured to request, responsive to the first request, a network application to transition to a tolerant state; and to request, responsive to the second request, the network application to transition to a sensitive state.