Underlay Network Formation via Seed Device Discovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
The formation and management of physical underlay networks are complex and disruptive, requiring manual IP address management and configuration, which becomes increasingly difficult as the network size grows, and introduces challenges in maintaining connectivity during changes.
Innovation Solution
A supervisory device designates a seed device and its interfaces for discovery, coordinating the discovery of a Layer 2 topology and converting links into Layer 3 links to form an underlay network, using a breadth-first traversal method to maintain connectivity and automate IP address allocation and configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If manual IP address management and configuration is used in physical underlay networks, then network formation can be achieved, but complexity increases significantly as network size grows
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service through automated IP address allocation and configuration. The supervisory device automatically discovers networking devices, assigns IP addresses, and configures Layer 3 links without requiring manual intervention, allowing the network to form itself autonomously
Solution Approach 2:
The supervisory device performs preliminary actions by pre-calculating and pre-allocating IP addresses and configurations before network devices are fully deployed. This allows the network to be prepared in advance, reducing on-site configuration complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If new physical networking devices are added to an established underlay network, then network capacity increases, but existing traffic is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The supervisory device performs preliminary configuration of new devices before they are fully integrated into the network. IP addresses and routing configurations are pre-calculated and staged, allowing seamless integration without disrupting existing traffic flows
Solution Approach 2:
The supervisory device acts as an intermediary that manages the transition of new devices into the network. It coordinates the integration process, temporarily managing configurations to ensure that new device addition does not impact existing traffic, then gradually incorporates the new devices
3Device complexity
If automated IP address allocation and configuration is implemented, then network formation complexity is reduced, but coordination overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple functions into a single supervisory device that handles IP address allocation, device discovery, topology mapping, and Layer 3 link configuration. This consolidation reduces overall system complexity despite the automation overhead, as one centralized device manages what would otherwise require multiple separate systems
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a supervisory device designates a particular networking device among a set of networking devices as a seed device and one or more interfaces of the seed device as discovery interfaces. The supervisory device coordinates, starting from the one or more discovery interfaces of the seed device, discovery of a Layer 2 topology of the set of networking devices, by designating one or more interfaces of a discovered networking device as discovery interfaces. The supervisory device converts, starting from at least one of the network devices farthest from the seed device in the Layer 2 topology and ending with the seed device, links of the Layer 2 topology into Layer 3 links, to form an underlay network.