Network Switch Route Offloading for Hybrid Cloud Scalability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hybrid cloud users face limitations with network switches as edge devices due to limited routing table capacity and high costs associated with using routers for managing BGP sessions and routes, which are often exceeded by the number of requested sessions and routes.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system where a network switch receives and forwards network routes to a route server for calculation and selection of a subset of routes to configure a switch forwarding table, with data packets having destination IP addresses not in the table forwarded to a default gateway server, thereby leveraging a cost-effective solution by using a network switch as an edge device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a network switch is used as an edge network device, then the cost is reduced compared to using a router, but the routing table capacity is limited and cannot handle the number of requested BGP sessions and routes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the routing functionality by separating the control plane (BGP session management and route calculation) from the data plane (packet forwarding). The network switch handles only packet forwarding using a simplified forwarding table, while a separate route server handles BGP sessions and calculates routing tables. This segmentation allows the switch to operate with limited routing capacity while still supporting multiple BGP sessions through the external route server.
2Quantity of substance
If a router is used as an edge network device, then the number of BGP sessions and routes can be handled, but the cost is significantly higher compared to using a network switch
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a route server as an intermediary component that mediates between the BGP speaking entities and the network switch. The route server establishes and manages BGP sessions with peer routers, calculates routing tables, and provides routing information to the network switch. This intermediary allows the system to handle multiple BGP sessions without requiring the expensive router hardware at the edge, as the route server performs the complex BGP processing functions.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for accessing cloud services by managing network routes are provided. A network switch may receive network routes and forward the network routes to a route server where the network routes are saved and calculated. The route server may select a subset of the calculated network routes on which the network switch is able to directly forward data packets and configure a switch forwarding table. The network switch may receive the switch forwarding table, forward data packets having destination IP addresses in the switch forwarding table to the destination IP addresses directly, and forward other data packets to the default gateway server. A default gateway server may receive the calculated network routes from the route server enabling the gate server to forward any received data packets, and receive, from the network switch, the other data packets for forwarding to their destination IP addresses.