Table-Based Packet Sniffer for Cluster Server Protocol Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cluster server systems face difficulties in analyzing communications between nodes due to the inability of hard-coded packet sniffers and decoders to handle constantly changing protocols and decode various protocol fields, making it challenging to diagnose issues and understand protocol communications.
Innovation Solution
A table-based packet sniffing/decoding system that uses protocol definition tables to identify and decode packets with multiple protocol portions, allowing for selective decoding and storage of fields for analysis, and can be easily extended to support additional protocols without additional loading on the nodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional hard-coded packet sniffers and decoders are used, then they can analyze packets of a single predetermined protocol, but they are unable to handle constantly changing protocols and decode various protocol fields
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static, hard-coded decoder structure into a dynamic system that can adapt to different protocols. The field identification table and decode handler selection mechanism allow the decoder to change its behavior based on the protocol type detected in each packet, enabling it to handle constantly changing protocols while maintaining a unified decoder structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the decoder based on protocol identification. By detecting the protocol type in packet portions and selecting corresponding decode handlers from the field identification table, the system adjusts its decoding parameters dynamically to match the specific protocol being analyzed,从而实现多协议支持.
2Ease of operation
If conventional packet sniffers are used, then they are hard-coded to analyze packets of a single predetermined protocol, but they are unable to selectively decode various protocols and fields of packets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the packet structure into distinct protocol portions, each identifiable by protocol identification fields. The field identification table divides decode handlers into protocol-specific segments, allowing selective decoding of only the relevant protocol fields in each packet portion while ignoring unrelated fields, thus enabling selective decoding without losing important protocol analysis information.
3Adaptability or versatility
If additional protocol support is added to the decoder, then more protocols can be decoded, but the system complexity and loading on cluster nodes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal decoder architecture that can handle multiple protocols through a single unified structure. The field identification table serves as a universal lookup mechanism that maps different protocol types to appropriate decode handlers, allowing the same decoder infrastructure to support an expanding range of protocols without increasing overall system complexity or requiring separate decoder instances for each protocol.
Data Source
AI summary
A table-based packet sniffing/decoding system and method suitable for cluster server systems is provided. Packets having portions of various protocols are communicated between nodes of a cluster server. Fields of the packets are decoded using protocol definition tables and may be stored for subsequent analysis. A protocol is identified from a protocol identification field of a packet and the field definition table is identified for the identified protocol. The field definition table defines fields of packets for a particular protocol and identifies a field decode handler for use in decoding each field. A filter may be applied to selectively decode (or refrain from decoding) certain fields. A filter may also be applied to selectively decode particular protocols.