SDN Forwarding State Reconstruction via Directed Graph Visualization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Debugging Software Defined Network (SDN) systems is complex due to the manual and time-consuming analysis of textual packet trace files from multiple network elements, which is not scalable and prone to errors, making it difficult to quickly identify forwarding state changes causing traffic drops.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that reconstruct and visualize the forwarding state of network devices in SDN systems by generating a directed graph based on control messages from the network controller, allowing for automatic analysis and visualization of forwarding state changes, enabling quicker identification of errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual analysis of textual packet trace files is used to debug SDN systems, then detailed inspection of forwarding state changes is possible, but the process is time-consuming and not scalable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a graphical copy/representation of the forwarding state data as a directed graph, where nodes represent forwarding table entries and edges represent matching relationships. This visual copy allows analysts to quickly comprehend complex forwarding states without manually parsing text logs, resolving the contradiction between detailed inspection and time consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical process of manual text log analysis with an automated system that generates and displays graphical representations of forwarding states. The system automatically parses control messages, constructs the directed graph, and presents it visually, eliminating the need for manual intervention while preserving detailed inspection capabilities.
2Loss of information
If manual textual analysis is used to identify forwarding state changes, then comprehensive debugging information can be obtained, but the complexity and error-proneness increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a visual copy of the forwarding state as a directed graph, where nodes and edges represent networking concepts (forwarding entries, matching relationships). This graphical representation preserves all debugging information while simplifying the analysis process, as the graph structure naturally encodes the relationships between forwarding state elements without requiring manual interpretation of text logs.
3Manufacturing precision
If detailed analysis of all control messages is performed, then complete forwarding state reconstruction is achieved, but the processing time and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential elements needed for forwarding state representation from control messages - specifically focusing on flow table entries, matching fields, and forwarding actions. By extracting only these critical components and representing them as nodes and edges in a directed graph, the system achieves accurate forwarding state reconstruction while processing only the necessary data, improving reconstruction speed without sacrificing accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are disclosed for re-construction and tracking of a forwarding state of a network device in communication with a network controller in a Software Defined Network (SDN). The techniques include receiving control messages, where the control messages are messages transmitted from a network controller to a network device. The techniques further includes extracting a subset of control messages from the control messages, where each control message from the subset of control messages caused a change in a forwarding state of the network device; generating, based on the extracted subset of control messages, a directed graph, wherein the directed graph is representative of the forwarding state of the network device; and causing the directed graph to be displayed on a display device.