SNMP Switch Node Failure Detection in Clusters

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing node failure detection methods in cluster computing are inaccurate and slow, leading to unnecessary costs and potential cluster freezes, as they often rely on heartbeat mechanisms that may result in false positives or false negatives, and require time-consuming verification processes.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves using physical link information from an SNMP-enabled switch to quickly and accurately determine node failure by monitoring data traffic and port status, allowing for immediate eviction of failed nodes without the need for repeated heartbeat retries, thereby enhancing decision-making speed and accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If heartbeat mechanisms are used for node failure detection, then node failure can be detected, but false positives or false negatives occur and verification processes are time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenode failure detection accuracyVSAvoidverification process time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an SNMP-enabled network switch as an intermediary device that monitors physical link status and data traffic between nodes. The switch collects link status information and traffic data, then provides this information to cluster nodes for failure detection, eliminating the need for time-consuming heartbeat verification processes while improving detection accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the software-based heartbeat mechanism with a hardware-based physical link monitoring system. By using the network switch's built-in capabilities to monitor physical link status and data traffic, the system achieves faster and more reliable failure detection without relying on software timeout mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If repeated heartbeat retries are performed for verification, then detection accuracy may improve, but decision-making speed decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefailure detection accuracyVSAvoiddecision-making speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary monitoring of physical link status and data traffic by the SNMP-enabled network switch before failure detection is needed. The switch continuously collects link status information and traffic data, so when failure detection is required, this pre-collected information is immediately available, eliminating the need for repeated verification attempts

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11463303B2Determining the health of other nodes in a same cluster based on physical link information

Publication Date: 2022.10.04 ORACLE INT CORP

AI summary

The embodiments disclosed herein relate to using SNMP functionality for fast and accurate detection of node failure in a computer cluster. When cluster nodes are connected via a switch that provides SNMP capability, a trap mechanism can be used to immediately and proactively notify cluster nodes that a particular cluster node is disconnected from the network, potentially even before the remaining cluster nodes have noticed a lack of response. In addition, when a cluster node notices a lack of response from a particular cluster node, the switch can be queried for link status and traffic information that can be used for fast determination of node status.