Unicast Packet Status Indicators for Multi-Tenant Network Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In multi-tenant data center networks, client communication is hindered by 'traffic black holes' and increased network utilization when a target client roams to a new tunnel end-point, due to stale or missing forwarding table entries, leading to inefficient data transmission.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a status indicator in unicast packets to determine forwarding table matches or misses, allowing receiving tunnel end-points to initiate actions that update or delete entries, thereby reducing traffic black holes and network utilization by ensuring accurate routing and entry maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If clients roam to new tunnel end-points in a multi-tenant data center network, then client mobility and network flexibility are improved, but traffic black holes and network utilization increase due to stale forwarding table entries
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where tunnel end-points send status indicators in unicast packets to inform source end-points about forwarding table entry validity. When a target client roams to a new tunnel end-point, the new end-point detects the client's presence and sends feedback to update source end-points' forwarding tables, eliminating traffic black holes caused by stale entries.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by maintaining and updating forwarding table entries before traffic black holes occur. When clients roam, the network proactively updates forwarding tables at source end-points before stale entries cause transmission failures, preventing rather than reacting to the problem.
2Reliability
If forwarding tables are updated frequently to maintain accurate routing, then data transmission reliability is improved, but network overhead and processing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by updating forwarding table entries only at specific tunnel end-points that have relevant client location information, rather than globally synchronizing all end-points. This localized update approach maintains routing accuracy while reducing unnecessary network overhead and processing complexity at end-points that don't need frequent updates.
3Reliability
If unicast packets are transmitted to all tunnel end-points to ensure delivery, then packet delivery reliability is improved, but network utilization increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by maintaining accurate forwarding tables that map target clients to their current tunnel end-points before packet transmission. This pre-established routing information allows source end-points to send unicast packets only to the specific tunnel end-point where the target client is currently located, rather than flooding all end-points, thus ensuring delivery reliability while minimizing network utilization.
Data Source
AI summary
The present subject matter relates to client communication in multi-tenant data center networks. In an example implementation, a unicast packet comprises a status indicative of one of a forwarding table-match and a forwarding table-miss at a source tunnel end-point (TEP) in a multi-tenant data center network.