Time Sync Traffic Isolation via VLAN VRF Virtualization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing time synchronization systems face challenges in providing accurate and precise synchronization in a scalable manner, particularly when client computing devices have overlapping IP addresses or multiple connections to different master computing devices, leading to reduced accuracy and reliability.
Innovation Solution
A single master computing device is configured with multiple instances of the time synchronization service, utilizing virtualization techniques such as VLANs and VRFs to isolate time synchronization traffic, allowing multiple client devices to connect to a single master device with a shared hardware clock, even with overlapping IP addresses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple master computing devices are used to provide time synchronization service to multiple clients, then service coverage and redundancy are improved, but timing precision and synchronization accuracy deteriorate due to multiple reference clocks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple time synchronization service instances onto a single master computing device, allowing multiple clients to connect to one reference clock. This consolidation maintains timing precision while providing service coverage through multiple virtual instances on the same physical device.
Solution Approach 2:
The single master computing device is configured to perform multiple time synchronization service functions simultaneously through virtualization, serving multiple clients with different IP address schemes from a single reference clock source.
2Device complexity
If traditional time synchronization systems are used without virtualization, then system simplicity is maintained, but scalability and ability to handle overlapping IP addresses deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the time synchronization service into multiple virtual instances on a single master device, each instance able to handle specific client groups with overlapping IP addresses. This segmentation enables scalability while maintaining a single physical device architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
Virtualization technology acts as an intermediary layer between the single master computing device and multiple clients, enabling the system to handle overlapping IP addresses and scale to multiple clients without requiring multiple physical master devices.
3Reliability
If multiple master computing devices are deployed for different client groups, then client isolation and IP address management are improved, but device complexity and synchronization accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple service instances for different client groups onto a single master computing device using virtualization, achieving client isolation through virtual boundaries while avoiding the complexity of multiple physical devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements nested virtualization structures where multiple virtual service instances are contained within a single master computing device, allowing client isolation while maintaining a unified physical platform.
Data Source
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AI summary
This disclosure describes techniques for providing customer isolation of time synchronization traffic using virtualization. For example, a method includes receiving, by a computing device, an Internet protocol (IP) address of a customer network of a plurality of customer networks connected to a cloud exchange executed by the computing device; configuring, by the computing device, a time synchronization server connected to the cloud exchange with a Virtualized Local Area Network (VLAN) associated with the IP address of the customer network, the time synchronization server comprising a plurality of instances that provide a time synchronization service; and configuring, by the computing device, the time synchronization server with a Virtual Routing and Forwarding (VRF) or network namespace for the VLAN, wherein the VRF or network namespace includes a route to send time synchronization traffic between the customer network and a particular instance of the plurality of instances that provide the time synchronization service.