Switch VLAN Management via Automatic Learning and Notification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current OpenFlow switch systems require manual VLAN ID allocation and central management, leading to increased load on control apparatuses and potential processing stagnation when the control apparatus malfunctions.
Innovation Solution
A switch apparatus with a VLAN setting management unit that automatically associates VLAN information with ports by adding or updating entries when a matching combination is not found, and notifies the control apparatus of these changes, eliminating the need for manual settings and central management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual VLAN ID allocation and central management by control apparatus is used, then VLAN settings can be managed, but the load on control apparatus increases and processing stagnation occurs when control apparatus malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the centralized VLAN management function into distributed components. Each switch apparatus independently manages its own VLAN settings through automatic learning, while the control apparatus only receives notification messages. This segmentation eliminates the single point of failure and reduces the processing load on the control apparatus.
Solution Approach 2:
The switch apparatus performs self-service by automatically learning VLAN settings from received packets and managing its own VLAN ID to port correspondence. The switch autonomously creates, updates, and manages VLAN configurations without requiring manual intervention or continuous control apparatus involvement, thereby improving reliability and reducing control apparatus load.
2Ease of operation
If manual VLAN ID allocation via command line interface is used, then VLAN settings can be configured, but operation complexity increases and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The switch apparatus automatically learns VLAN settings by analyzing received packets and autonomously configures VLAN ID to port correspondences. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for manual command line interface operations, significantly reducing configuration time and operational complexity while maintaining accurate VLAN settings.
Solution Approach 2:
The switch apparatus performs preliminary actions by proactively learning VLAN settings from incoming packets before any manual configuration is needed. The automatic learning mechanism pre-establishes VLAN configurations based on actual network traffic, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual setup and ensuring VLAN settings are ready immediately upon packet reception.
3Reliability
If control apparatus manages all VLAN settings centrally, then centralized control is achieved, but processing load on control apparatus increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the VLAN management workload by assigning automatic learning and local VLAN configuration tasks to individual switch apparatuses. The control apparatus retains only the lightweight function of receiving notification messages, dramatically reducing its processing load while preserving centralized visibility and control capabilities through the notification mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
A switch apparatus includes: a plurality of ports; a VLAN setting management unit storing entries, in each of which VLAN information and at least one of the plurality of ports are associated with each other, and adding or updating, if an entry corresponding to a combination of VLAN information included in a packet received from a port and the reception port of the packet is not stored, a corresponding entry for the received packet; and a functional unit notifying a predetermined control apparatus of an added or updated content of the entry.