Terminal Apparatus Testing Physical Links in Aggregated Switch Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network management systems struggle to accurately identify physical link failures within a network configured with link aggregation, as methods like ping cannot directly designate intermediate physical paths and fail to grasp the state of physical lines effectively.
Innovation Solution
A terminal apparatus and switch system that creates and transmits test packets with rewritten transmission source addresses to confirm the normality of physical links, using a rule-based selection of physical links as components of logical links, enabling the identification of specific physical link failures within a multi-stage logical link configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ping is used to confirm network normality, then communication status between terminals can be confirmed, but the state of intermediate physical paths in LAG cannot be directly designated or grasped
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the logical link testing into individual physical link testing by creating multiple test packets with different source MAC addresses that correspond to different physical links in the LAG bundle. This allows independent testing of each physical link rather than treating the LAG as a single unified path.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary testing mechanism where test packets with rewritten source addresses act as mediators to probe the physical link status. These test packets traverse through the LAG bundle and allow indirect observation of physical link states that cannot be directly accessed by standard ping.
2Reliability
If LAG function is used to ensure path redundancy, then network reliability is improved, but the ability to identify specific physical link failures is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the aggregated logical link into individual physical link components for testing purposes. By assigning unique source MAC addresses to each physical link in the LAG bundle, the system can segment the failure detection process to identify which specific physical link has failed while maintaining the logical aggregation for redundancy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by making each physical link within the LAG bundle have a distinctive identifier (source MAC address) that allows individual identification. This enables differential treatment and monitoring of each physical link while they collectively form the redundant logical path.
3Ease of operation
If standard ping method is used, then terminal communication status can be confirmed, but intermediate physical path states cannot be directly designated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces test packets with rewritten source addresses as intermediary tools that bridge the gap between simple terminal-to-terminal ping and detailed physical link monitoring. These intermediary packets carry identification information that allows tracing back to specific physical links while maintaining the simplicity of automated testing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates multiple copies of test packets with different source MAC addresses corresponding to different physical links. These copied packets are transmitted through the LAG bundle, allowing parallel testing of multiple physical paths without requiring complex manual configuration for each link.
Data Source
AI summary
A terminal apparatus, comprises an inspection execution part that executes an inspection by transmitting a test packet to a prescribed destination apparatus reached via a plurality of logical links, the logical link being configured by a switch having a function of aggregating a plurality of physical links between the switch and an adjacent switch to use the physical links as a logical link, and a test packet creation part that creates, based on a rule of selecting a physical link as a component of the logical link by the switch, a plurality of kinds of test packets for which a transmission source address(s) of the test packet(s) is(are) so rewritten to enable confirmation of normality of the plurality of physical links between the terminal apparatus and the prescribed destination apparatus.