SDN Tunnel Chain Pre-Configuration for Latency Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current software defined networks (SDNs) face challenges in efficiently handling the increasing data volume and diverse application requirements, particularly in providing flexible, efficient, and scalable network services due to the complexity introduced by cloud-based networking, which demands improved throughput, lower latencies, and more numerous connections.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an SDN controller with a north-bound interface (NBI) and south-bound interface (SBI) that decomposes service chain policies into tunnels, allowing for pre-established tunnel chaining to configure SDN switches and form efficient tunnel chains, thereby improving latency and provisioning performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If service chain policies are processed dynamically upon each service request, then network flexibility and adaptability are improved, but latency and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-computing and caching service chain paths and tunnel configurations before service requests arrive. The SDN controller proactively establishes tunnel chains between service functions in advance, so when a service request occurs, the pre-configured tunnels can be immediately activated without dynamic computation delays, thus reducing latency while maintaining flexibility through on-demand activation of pre-prepared paths
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamics by making the tunnel chain configuration adaptive - tunnels are pre-established but dynamically activated or deactivated based on actual service requests. The SDN controller can dynamically select which pre-configured tunnel chains to activate, modify tunnel parameters, or reconfigure paths in response to changing service demands, combining the benefits of pre-computation with real-time adaptability
2Productivity
If tunnel chains are pre-configured for all possible service scenarios, then latency is reduced and service provisioning is accelerated, but network resource consumption and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the service chain into multiple independent tunnel segments or hops between adjacent service functions. Each tunnel chain is broken down into discrete, manageable segments that can be independently configured, cached, and activated. This segmentation reduces the complexity of managing entire end-to-end service chains as single units and allows for more efficient resource utilization by activating only the necessary segments for each service request
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses parameter changes by dynamically adjusting tunnel configuration parameters such as bandwidth allocation, quality of service (QoS) settings, and active/inactive states based on actual service demands. Rather than maintaining fixed, full-capacity tunnel chains for all scenarios, the SDN controller modifies tunnel parameters in response to service requests, optimizing resource usage while maintaining the capability for rapid service provisioning
3Adaptability or versatility
If the SDN controller processes and configures tunnels in real-time for each service request, then service customization is improved, but processing time and computational overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The SDN controller performs preliminary computation of service chain paths, tunnel configurations, and routing policies in advance, before actual service requests are processed. Service chain templates and tunnel chain configurations are pre-computed and cached in the controller, enabling the system to respond to service requests by activating pre-prepared configurations rather than computing everything from scratch, thus reducing processing time while maintaining customization capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses copying by creating template-based representations of service chains and tunnel configurations that can be replicated and instantiated for specific service requests. Instead of processing each service request as a completely unique configuration task, the SDN controller uses pre-defined service chain templates and copies/adapts them to meet specific service requirements, significantly reducing computation time while preserving service customization through template parameter adjustment
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment method of service chaining in a software defined network (SDN) having SDN switches includes receiving a service chain requirement having a plurality of services. Respective tunnels are then defined for the plurality of services. The method then configures the SDN switches to establish the respective tunnels and form a tunnel chain.