SDN Gateway Migration via Route Priority Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
In large data centers, existing technologies face challenges in efficiently migrating gateway devices between software-defined networks and external layer three networks, particularly during device upgrades, expansions, or replacements, leading to potential packet loss and service disruptions.
Innovation Solution
The SDN-based GW migration processing method involves configuring and reconfiguring priorities of VXLAN IP GWs to reroute data flows, allowing seamless migration of VXLAN IP GWs by lowering and restoring route priorities, ensuring continuous data communication through other available GWs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If gateway devices are migrated between software-defined networks and external layer three networks, then device upgrades and expansions can be performed, but packet loss and service disruptions occur during migration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes a forwarding relationship between the migrating gateway device and a target gateway device before the actual migration occurs. The controller pre-configures the target gateway device with forwarding rules, so that when the gateway migrates, traffic is already routed through the target device, preventing service interruption and packet loss during the transition.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary that manages the migration process. It coordinates between the source gateway device, target gateway device, and network switches, using OpenFlow protocols to program forwarding rules that ensure seamless traffic redirection. The controller mediates the entire migration sequence to maintain service continuity.
2Speed
If gateway devices are migrated directly without preconfiguration, then migration speed is fast, but packet loss occurs during the transition
Solution Approach 1:
The controller pre-programs the target gateway device with necessary forwarding rules before the source gateway device disconnects. This preliminary configuration ensures that when migration occurs, the target device is ready to immediately forward traffic, eliminating packet loss while maintaining fast migration speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuous traffic forwarding by establishing the forwarding relationship before migration. The target gateway device maintains forwarding rules that allow uninterrupted data flow during the transition, ensuring that useful action (traffic forwarding) continues without interruption throughout the migration process.
3Reliability
If multiple gateway devices are used for load sharing, then service reliability is improved, but migration control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller implements feedback mechanisms to monitor the status of multiple gateway devices and dynamically adjust forwarding rules. When a gateway device migrates or fails, the controller receives feedback about the changed state and automatically reconfigures the network, simplifying the management of multiple devices while maintaining service reliability through automated responses.
Data Source
AI summary
Priority of a route, which carries a virtual extensible local area network (VXLAN) tunneling end point (VTEP) Internet protocol (IP) address of a port of a VXLAN tunnel corresponding to a first VXLAN IP GW to be migrated, is lowered. The route is then released to a VTEP at peer end of the VXLAN tunnel. Priority of a static route destined for a virtual machine (VM) is also lowered. The static route is then released to a network device in a non-virtual network. At least two VXLAN IP GWs possess a same VTEP IP address of a port of a VXLAN tunnel. Before priority of route corresponding to first VXLAN IP GW is lowered, priority of route carrying the same VTEP IP address released by each of at least two VXLAN IP GWs is same. Priority of static route from each of at least two VXLAN IP GWs to the VM is same. When controller monitors no data flow between VM and network device in the non-virtual network passes the first VXLAN IP GW, migration actions may be executed.