SDN Memory Allocation via Controller-Device Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current software-defined networking (SDN) systems lack an efficient method for memory allocation between SDN controllers and network elements, leading to suboptimal performance in routing traffic due to the absence of a standardized approach for determining the appropriate memory type based on specific requirements.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a method where SDN controllers communicate with network devices to request the generation of entities such as flow table entries and group table entries, providing indications of target access speed and storage scalability, allowing the network devices to select the most suitable memory type from available options for efficient memory allocation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If memory allocation is performed without standardized communication between SDN controller and network elements, then device complexity is reduced, but memory allocation efficiency and performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by introducing specific memory usage characteristic parameters (access speed requirements, storage scalability requirements) into the communication protocol between SDN controller and network elements. This allows the system to adapt memory allocation to different traffic routing needs by varying these parameters in allocation requests, thereby improving memory allocation efficiency without excessive complexity increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the memory allocation process into distinct communication steps: the SDN controller sends allocation requests with specific memory usage characteristics, the network element evaluates these characteristics against available memory types, and returns allocation decisions. This segmentation allows standardized communication while maintaining manageable system complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple memory types are used for different entities, then memory allocation adaptability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allowing different memory types to be allocated to different entities (flow table entries, group table entries) based on their specific memory usage characteristics. High-speed access entities receive fast memory types while entities requiring large storage receive scalable memory types, optimizing overall system adaptability without requiring complex global memory management.
Solution Approach 2:
The network element performs self-service by autonomously evaluating memory usage characteristics received from the SDN controller and selecting appropriate memory types from its available memory pool. This self-service approach improves adaptability while reducing controller complexity, as the decision-making logic resides in the network element itself.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods for memory allocation in a software-defined networking (SDN) system are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a first message in a network device from a SDN controller, where the first message includes a request to generate an entity in the network device to route traffic, and where the entity is one of a flow table entry, a group table entry, and a flow table. The method further includes identifying an indication in the first message that indicates at least one memory usage characteristic of the entity, where the at least one memory usage characteristic includes at least one of a target access speed and a target storage scalability of the entity; and generating, at least partially based on the indication, the entity using one memory type of a plurality of memory types of the network device.