SD-WAN Router Affinity for Intent-Based Traffic Steering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current SD-WAN technologies face challenges in efficiently steering application traffic due to reliance on TLOC preferences, which leads to cumbersome bookkeeping and inconsistent affinity support, resulting in administrative difficulties and lack of finer control over traffic steering.
Innovation Solution
The integration of router affinity into data and AAR policies within SD-WAN networks, allowing for centralized data policies that incorporate affinity group numbers and local affinity preference orders, enabling branches to automatically steer application traffic based on user intent without manual management of TLOCs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If TLOC preferences are used for traffic steering, then traffic can be directed to specific remote locations, but multiple data policies and TLOC lists must be maintained leading to cumbersome bookkeeping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges TLOC preferences directly into data policy rules, combining what were previously separate configuration elements (TLOC lists and data policies) into a unified structure. This allows traffic steering functionality to be maintained while eliminating the need to manage separate TLOC lists, thereby reducing administrative complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal data policy structure that can handle multiple remote locations and traffic steering requirements through a single policy framework. Instead of requiring separate policies for each location or scenario, the unified data policy with embedded TLOC preferences provides multi-functional capability across the entire SD-WAN deployment.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple data policies are created to steer traffic to different hubs, then traffic steering flexibility is improved, but administrative burden increases due to proliferation of policies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables local quality by allowing each data policy rule to contain location-specific TLOC preferences directly embedded within it. This means each policy can be tailored to specific traffic patterns and destinations without requiring separate policies for each location, achieving both flexibility and manageability through localized configuration within a unified framework.
3Stability of the object's composition
If router affinity is integrated into data policies, then affinity configuration consistency is improved, but policy complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges router affinity configuration directly into the data policy structure, combining what were previously separate affinity settings and policy configurations into a unified element. This integration ensures consistency across the network by making affinity configuration an inherent part of data policies rather than a separate configuration layer.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure describes techniques and mechanisms for enabling intent-based application traffic steering in a network. The techniques may enable a controller to resolve affinity in data policies with TLOC lists and user intent. The techniques may enable branches to apply local affinity preference orders and data policies when routing traffic. The techniques enable network administrators to create and apply a single data policy across branches of a network, such that regardless of the number of hubs or the number of branches, the techniques described herein create just one data policy (e.g., a centralized data policy), resulting in significant simplification of the network configuration to be created, managed, and/or deployed.