SDN Switch NFX-NFP Architecture for Elephant Subflow Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional SDN switches face inefficiencies in handling elephant subflows and switch partitioning, as they require extensive processing by powerful processors for deep packet inspection, leading to high costs and resource utilization inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a network architecture that includes Network Flow Switch (NFX) circuits, which are less expensive and less powerful, and a Network Flow Processor (NFP) circuit, where NFX circuits handle packet forwarding without instruction-fetching processors, and the NFP circuit manages flow entries and configures NFX circuits to handle subflows efficiently, reducing the need for deep packet inspection and processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional SDN switches use powerful processors for deep packet inspection and flow management, then packet forwarding accuracy and SDN protocol compliance are improved, but device cost and resource utilization efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The switch is divided into two distinct functional parts: NFX circuits that handle simple packet forwarding based on flow tables, and an NFP circuit that handles complex SDN protocol processing and flow table management. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, with NFX circuits using simpler, less expensive hardware while the NFP circuit provides sophisticated processing only when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The NFP circuit acts as an intermediary between the NFX circuits and the external SDN controller. It translates SDN protocol messages into flow table entries that NFX circuits can execute, and filters packet inspections to only those requiring complex processing. This intermediary role eliminates the need for every NFX circuit to have full SDN protocol stacks.
2Measurement precision
If SDN switches process all packets through powerful processors for deep inspection, then flow management precision is improved, but processing speed and productivity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of applying deep packet inspection to all packets, the system applies sophisticated NFP circuit processing only to packets that require flow table updates or SDN protocol handling. The majority of packets are processed by the simpler NFX circuits using existing flow table entries, achieving partial processing that maintains precision for critical packets while dramatically improving overall throughput.
3Measurement precision
If SDN switches use extensive processor resources for elephant subflow detection and handling, then subflow management accuracy is improved, but resource utilization efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The NFX circuits autonomously detect elephant subflows by monitoring packet rates and patterns against flow table entries, and automatically generate requests for new flow entries when thresholds are exceeded. This self-service capability eliminates the need for continuous processor intervention, allowing accurate subflow detection while maintaining high resource utilization efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A method involves a Software-Defined Networking (SDN) switch that includes multiple Network Flow Switch (NFX) integrated circuits, a Network Flow Processor (NFP) circuit, and a controller processor. The controller processor is coupled to the NFP circuit by a serial bus. A flow table is maintained on each of the NFX integrated circuits. A SDN flow table is maintained on the NFP circuit. A copy of each of the flow tables is maintained on the NFP circuit. Another SDN flow table is maintained on the controller processor. A SDN protocol stack is executed on the controller processor. A SDN protocol message is received onto the SDN switch via one of the NFX integrated circuits. The SDN protocol message is communicated across a network link to the NFP circuit, and across the serial bus from the NFP circuit to the controller processor such that the SDN protocol message is received and processed by the SDN protocol stack executing on the controller processor.