Multiple TCP/IP Stack Processors for Tenant Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data center systems face challenges in managing network traffic segregation, particularly with multiple IP interfaces on different VLANs, leading to issues with routing and resource allocation, which affects the functionality of virtual machine migrators and storage services across Layer 3 boundaries, and poses security risks due to shared TCP/IP stack processors across tenants.
Innovation Solution
Implementing multiple TCP/IP stack processors on a host, each with its own default gateway and resource pool, allowing for independent operation and segregation of processes, thereby enabling secure and efficient communication across subnets without relying on static routes or shared resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single TCP/IP stack processor is shared across multiple tenants, then resource utilization is improved, but security and isolation between tenants deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single TCP/IP stack processor into multiple independent virtual TCP/IP stack processors, one for each tenant. Each virtual stack processor maintains separate network interfaces, routing tables, and connection states, ensuring complete isolation between tenants while allowing the physical hardware to be shared across multiple tenants for efficient resource utilization.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple VLAN interfaces are configured on a single TCP/IP stack processor, then network traffic segregation is improved, but routing complexity and error-proneness increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the routing functionality by creating separate virtual TCP/IP stack processors for each tenant or traffic type. Each virtual stack processor has its own simplified routing table and gateway configuration, eliminating the need for complex static route management across multiple VLAN interfaces on a single stack processor.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a virtualization layer that acts as an intermediary between the physical network interfaces and the tenant applications. This virtual layer handles the complexity of VLAN tagging, routing table management, and gateway selection automatically, freeing applications from needing to explicitly specify virtual interfaces while maintaining proper traffic segregation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If static routes are configured for non-default gateways, then communication across Layer 3 boundaries is improved, but system security and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables each virtual TCP/IP stack processor to automatically obtain its own default gateway and routing configuration through standard DHCP or configuration mechanisms. Each tenant's virtual stack processor independently manages its own routing table and gateway settings, eliminating the need for manual static route configuration while enabling seamless communication across Layer 3 boundaries.
Data Source
AI summary
Multiple TCP/IP stack processors on a host. The multiple TCP/IP stack processors are provided independently of TCP/IP stack processors implemented by virtual machines on the host. The TCP/IP stack processors provide multiple different default gateway addresses for use with multiple processes. The default gateway addresses allow a service to communicate across an L3 network. Processes outside of virtual machines that utilize the TCP/IP stack processor on a first host can benefit from using their own gateway, and communicate with their peer process on a second host, regardless of whether the second host is located within the same subnet or a different subnet. The multiple TCP/IP stack processors can use separately allocated resources. Separate TCP/IP stack processors can be provided for each of multiple tenants on the host. Separate loopback interfaces of multiple TCP/IP stack processors can be used to create separate containment for separate sets of processes on a host.