Switch-Based TCP Redirection in Segmented Virtual Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
In computing environments, segmented virtual machines often experience performance bottlenecks due to high load on the shell VM when forwarding interactions, which can waste computing capability of the core VM.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a redirection technique where a switch intercepts and alters TCP packets to bypass the shell VM, establishing a direct connection between the external application and the core VM, reducing the load on the shell VM by stitching TCP connections in three phases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If information is forwarded through the shell VM in a segmented virtual machine architecture, then the core VM can perform internal execution functions, but the shell VM becomes a performance bottleneck that wastes core VM computing capability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the TCP connection forwarding function from the shell VM by introducing a switch that directly forwards TCP packets between the external application and core VM. This removes the shell VM from the critical data path for TCP traffic, eliminating it as a performance bottleneck while preserving the segmented VM architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a switch as an intermediary device that sits between the external application and the segmented virtual machine. This switch handles TCP packet forwarding directly, bypassing the shell VM, thereby reducing the shell VM's forwarding load while maintaining proper network communication flow.
2Reliability
If the shell VM forwards all TCP/IP connection packets, then external applications can communicate with the core VM, but the forwarding load creates performance bottlenecks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network communication path into two separate channels: TCP packets are forwarded directly by the switch between the external application and core VM, while other types of interactions still pass through the shell VM. This segmentation allows critical TCP traffic to bypass the shell VM bottleneck.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts TCP packet forwarding from the shell VM's responsibilities and assigns it to the switch. This extraction reduces the shell VM's workload to only non-TCP interactions, significantly improving overall system performance while maintaining communication reliability.
3Productivity
If TCP connections are redirected to bypass the shell VM, then the load on the shell VM is reduced, but the connection establishment becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The switch acts as an intelligent intermediary that automatically performs TCP packet redirection based on connection state information. This eliminates the need for complex redirection logic in the shell VM or core VM, as the switch handles the redirection transparently based on simple packet inspection and state tracking.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses TCP connection state copying and tracking at the switch level to manage redirected connections. The switch maintains connection state information and uses this to automatically forward packets along the correct path, simplifying the overall redirection mechanism while reducing shell VM load.
Data Source
AI summary
A technique is disclosed for redirecting information in a segmented virtual machine. The technique includes sending information to a shell VM and redirecting the information to bypass the shell VM. A technique for evaluating whether to redirect information may include sending a discovery packet, receiving a reply to the discovery packet; and determining whether a switch is capable of stitching based on the reply. A technique for responding to a discovery packet may include receiving the discovery packet at a switch and sending a response indicating a capability of the switch.