SD-WAN Hub Controller BGP Preference Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional private networks, such as MPLS-based IP-VPN, face challenges in integrating with software-defined wide area networks (SD-WAN) due to incompatibility between dynamic path selection mechanisms, leading to suboptimal route selection in SD-WAN domains, as routers lack knowledge of congested or slow routes within the SD-WAN network.
Innovation Solution
A route selection system that includes a hub controller in the SD-WAN domain, which generates Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) advertisements with preference values proportional to performance measurements, allowing routers in the private network domain to select the best SD-WAN hub for routing, thereby optimizing communication routes based on real-time performance metrics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional BGP routing is used without performance measurements, then routing decisions are made based on static paths and policies, but route selection becomes suboptimal when network congestion or performance degradation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by collecting performance measurements (latency, packet loss, bandwidth utilization) from network hubs and feeding this information back into BGP routing decisions. The hub controller continuously monitors network performance and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust route preferences, ensuring that routing decisions are based on current network conditions rather than static configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The hub controller acts as an intermediary between the SD-WAN domain and the private network domain. It collects performance measurements from multiple network hubs, processes this information, and generates BGP advertisements that encode performance-based preferences. This intermediary function allows routers in the private network domain to make informed routing decisions without directly accessing detailed performance data from the SD-WAN domain.
2Adaptability or versatility
If dynamic path selection is implemented in SD-WAN, then route adaptability improves, but compatibility issues arise with conventional private network routing protocols
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameters of BGP advertisements by incorporating performance-based preference values into the routing information. Instead of using traditional static metrics, the hub controller modifies BGP attributes to reflect real-time network performance measurements, allowing dynamic path selection while maintaining compatibility with standard BGP routing protocols used in private networks.
3Measurement precision
If performance measurements are collected from multiple network hubs, then route selection accuracy improves, but system complexity and measurement overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hub controller performs multiple functions: it collects performance measurements from network hubs, processes this data, generates BGP advertisements with performance-based preferences, and distributes these advertisements to routers. This multi-functional approach consolidates complexity into a single controller rather than requiring each network element to independently perform measurement and routing optimization functions.
Data Source
AI summary
A route selection system includes a hub controller in communication with multiple network hubs of a first network domain in which each of the hubs are in communication with a corresponding multiple routers of a second network domain. The hub controller is executed to obtain at least one performance measurement associated with a route terminating at the network hub, generate a border gateway protocol (BGP) advertisement with a preference value that is proportional to the received performance measurement, and transmit the generated advertisement to the network hub, the network hub forwarding the advertisement to the router configured in the other network domain. Upon receipt of the advertisements, the second network domain selects one of the routers for processing the route through the second network domain according to the performance measurement included in the advertisement.