Network Switch Load Balancing via Downstream Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing load balancing techniques in networks do not consider the impact on downstream devices, leading to potential overloading or underutilization of certain nodes, resulting in traffic congestion and inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves a network switching device that uses a method to determine candidate paths and calculates profile scores for each link, selecting the link with the lowest usage relative to its target usage ratio to balance traffic across multiple paths, taking into account the impact on downstream nodes, using modules such as a path determination module, profile score module, and link-usage-by-destination score module.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If load balancing is performed using traditional techniques that only consider local device information, then the local device can distribute traffic across available links, but downstream network devices may become overloaded or underutilized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by having the local device receive link usage information from downstream devices and use this information to adjust load balancing decisions. The downstream devices send feedback about their current link utilization, and the local device uses this feedback to select paths that will balance the overall network load, preventing downstream overload while maintaining autonomous local decision-making capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extends load balancing from a single-device perspective to a multi-device network dimension. Instead of only considering local link utilization, the system incorporates downstream device link usage information, adding a new dimension of network-wide load awareness. This allows the local device to make decisions that optimize overall network load distribution rather than just local link utilization.
2Productivity
If load balancing spreads traffic evenly across all available links, then local link utilization improves, but it may create congestion at downstream network nodes
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from downstream devices about their link utilization status to prevent congestion. Downstream devices provide information about their current load, and the local device uses this feedback to adjust traffic distribution, selecting paths that will not overload downstream nodes while still achieving good local link utilization through intelligent path selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by having downstream devices report their link usage status to upstream devices in advance. This allows upstream devices to make load balancing decisions that prevent downstream congestion before it occurs, rather than reacting to congestion after it has already formed. The system proactively distributes traffic to avoid creating harmful congestion conditions.
3Reliability
If feedback from downstream devices is collected continuously to optimize load balancing, then network-wide load distribution improves, but resource consumption and time overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by collecting feedback from only the necessary downstream devices rather than all devices in the network. The system gathers link usage information from downstream devices that are directly affected by load balancing decisions, using just enough feedback to achieve effective network-wide load balance without the excessive resource consumption that would result from comprehensive network-wide monitoring.
Data Source
AI summary
Example implementations relate to load balancing network traffic flows in a network switching device. According to an example, a network switching device may include a port to receive a packet in a network flow, a bin mapper module to map the packet to a bin of a plurality of bins, and a path determination module to determine available paths from the network switching device to a destination device for the packet. The device can also include a profile score module to determine a profile score for each candidate link implicated by the determined available paths, the profile score being based on a proportion of the available paths that use the candidate link. The device can also include a link-usage-by-destination score module to determine, for each candidate link, a link-usage-by-destination score that represents an amount of traffic that has been sent on each candidate link to the destination relative to all candidate links. A load balancer can then select a candidate link for the network flow based on comparing the profile scores of the candidate links with the link-usage-by-destination scores of the candidate links and create a bin-link mapping between the bin and the selected candidate link.