Options Template Transport Reliability in SD-WAN
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional template-based network flow monitoring solutions employ a push protocol without acknowledgement, making packet delivery unreliable due to the lack of error correction, particularly when using UDP as the transport layer protocol.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a pull mode by the collector device with acknowledgement mechanisms, using a new options template format with specific flags and a security protocol like DTLS for authentication, to ensure reliable download of updated options templates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a push protocol without acknowledgement is used for template-based network flow monitoring, then the device complexity is reduced and the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability of packet delivery deteriorates due to lack of error correction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an acknowledgement mechanism where the collector device sends acknowledgements back to the exporter device to confirm successful receipt of template packets. This feedback loop ensures reliable delivery by allowing retransmission of lost or corrupted packets, directly resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability.
2Speed
If UDP is used as the transport layer protocol for sending template packets, then the speed of transmission is improved and the use of energy is reduced, but the reliability of delivery deteriorates due to lack of provision for acknowledgement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the template data into multiple template packets, each transmitted individually with its own acknowledgement mechanism. This segmentation allows the system to maintain the speed benefits of UDP while ensuring reliable delivery through selective retransmission of only those packets that fail to acknowledge, rather than requiring acknowledgment for entire template sets.
3Reliability
If a pull mode with acknowledgement mechanism is implemented for downloading options templates, then the reliability of data transmission is improved, but the device complexity and use of energy increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a pull mode where the collector device requests only the specific template packets it needs or has not yet received, rather than continuously polling for all templates. This partial action approach maintains reliability through acknowledgements while reducing the complexity and energy consumption compared to a full continuous pull mode that would require constant communication and processing.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for improving options templates for network traffic monitoring and analysis, using pull mode by a network collector device, and sending an acknowledgement, by the network collector device that the download was successfully received are described. The techniques may include transmitting, by a network collector device and to a network edge device, a request to download a full options template, receiving, by the network collector device, responses from the network edge device, each response including a segment of the full options template and each segment including a last segment flag indicating whether the segment is a last segment, and in response to receiving a segment having the last segment flag set, transmitting, by the network collector device and to the network edge device, an acknowledgement that the full options template has been received.