Service Insertion Address Table for Network Traffic Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
In large networks, service insertion techniques often result in redundant network traffic and operation of inserted services due to the lack of a centralized address table, leading to inefficient packet forwarding and potential loss of addressing information.
Innovation Solution
Maintaining a service insertion address table that associates devices with service insertion tunnels, allowing packets to be forwarded directly to their destinations without unnecessary detours through a service providing device, thereby reducing redundant operations and preserving addressing information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If service insertion is performed without a centralized address table, then service functionality is provided to network devices, but redundant network traffic and redundant service operations occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing a centralized address table that maps network devices to their corresponding service insertion tunnels. This table is built in advance using packet capture and analysis, storing the relationships between devices and tunnels before actual service operations occur. When packets need service insertion, the pre-built table enables direct forwarding without redundant routing, thus eliminating redundant network traffic while maintaining service functionality.
2Loss of information
If service insertion is performed without a centralized address table, then service functionality is provided to network devices, but addressing information is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by introducing a centralized address table as a mediator between network devices and service insertion tunnels. This table stores and manages the mapping relationships, acting as an intermediary data structure that preserves addressing information. When packets are forwarded, the table enables accurate lookup of the correct tunnel based on device address, thus preventing loss of addressing information while simplifying the packet forwarding operation.
3Reliability
If packets are returned to the service providing device via the reverse path, then service insertion can be performed, but redundant operations and network traffic occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the extraction principle by removing the redundant return path operation from the service insertion process. Instead of returning packets to the service providing device via the reverse path, the system extracts and utilizes the pre-established mapping in the centralized address table to forward packets directly to the correct service insertion tunnel. This eliminates the unnecessary detour and redundant service operations while maintaining the correctness of service insertion through accurate tunnel selection.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods associated with service insertion forwarding are disclosed. One example method includes building a service insertion address table. The service insertion address table may associate service insertion tunnels with device addresses based on payload source addresses retrieved from packets received via the service insertion tunnels. The method also includes forwarding a packet received from a source device to a destination device. The packet may be received from the source device via a source service insertion tunnel. The packet may be forwarded to the destination device via a destination service insertion tunnel. The destination service insertion tunnel may be associated with the destination device in the service insertion address table.