SDN Host Forwarding via Global Virtual MAC
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Solution Overview
Problem
In cloud computing environments with virtual machines, the VXLAN gateway becomes a forwarding bottleneck when all inter-Virtual Machine traffic goes through it, necessitating a solution for interworking between VXLANs without relying on a VXLAN gateway device.
Innovation Solution
A packet processing method in Software Defined Networks (SDN) where the controlling device configures a global virtual MAC address to reply to ARP requests and sends forwarding flow table entries, disguising itself as a virtual gateway to enable interworking between VXLANs without a physical VXLAN gateway, by searching and replacing MAC addresses in the global port table.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all inter-Virtual Machine traffic goes through the VXLAN gateway, then interworking between VXLANs is achieved, but the VXLAN gateway becomes a forwarding bottleneck
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the centralized gateway function into distributed forwarding capabilities at each host. Instead of all traffic converging at a single VXLAN gateway, each host performs local ARP processing and packet forwarding decisions, distributing the forwarding load across multiple nodes in the network
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a controlling device that acts as an intermediary to manage ARP requests and distribute forwarding rules to hosts. This intermediary coordinates ARP processing centrally while enabling distributed forwarding, resolving the contradiction between centralized control and distributed performance
2Reliability
If a VXLAN gateway device is used for interworking between VXLANs, then network connectivity is ensured, but device complexity and dependency increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the gateway functionality from a separate physical VXLAN gateway device and integrates it into the controlling device and host system. The controlling device handles ARP requests and distributes forwarding rules, while hosts perform local packet processing, eliminating the need for a dedicated gateway appliance
Solution Approach 2:
The controlling device performs multiple functions: it manages ARP requests, distributes forwarding rules, and coordinates packet forwarding between VXLANs. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would traditionally require separate gateway, ARP server, and forwarding components into a single SDN controller
Data Source
AI summary
A forwarding flow table request sent by a host device when the host device fails to find a matching forwarding flow table entry for a data packet to be forwarded is received, when a destination MAC address of the data packet is the global virtual MAC address, a forwarding flow table entry is generated according to the global port table; the forwarding flow table entry includes an operation indication of replacing the destination MAC address of the data packet with the matching MAC address found in the global port table; and the forwarding flow table entry is sent to the host device, so that the host device may forward a data packet matching the forwarding flow table entry.