Unified Cluster Log Collection via Manager Node and PTP
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Solution Overview
Problem
In data communication networks, logs from multiple nodes in a cluster become discordant and disorganized due to the lack of a comprehensive and sequentially ordered view, making it difficult to manage and analyze network traffic records effectively.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for collecting log information from multiple nodes in a cluster by designating a manager node to establish communication channels, synchronize clocks using Precision Time Protocol (PTP), and merge log entries into a unified cluster log based on timestamps or 'happens before' relationships, ensuring temporal coherence and order.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If logs are collected from multiple nodes independently, then each node maintains its own log records, but the logs become discordant and disorganized without a comprehensive sequential view
Solution Approach 1:
A designated manager node acts as an intermediary to collect, synchronize, and merge logs from all cluster nodes. The manager node receives log records from each node, orders them using timestamps and happens-before relationships, and distributes the unified log back to the cluster, eliminating the discordance of independent logging.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges logs from multiple independent nodes into a single unified log by combining log records from all nodes, ordering them chronologically using timestamps and causal relationships (happens-before), and distributing the merged log back to the cluster to ensure a comprehensive sequential view.
2Measurement precision
If clocks are synchronized using Precision Time Protocol, then temporal ordering of log entries is achieved, but network dependency and synchronization overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses Precision Time Protocol to continuously synchronize clocks across nodes by measuring time offsets and adjusting local clocks based on feedback from the reference time source. This ensures timestamp accuracy while managing synchronization overhead through periodic adjustments rather than constant communication.
Solution Approach 2:
Clock synchronization is performed in advance before log generation to ensure that timestamps are already accurate when events occur. This preliminary synchronization reduces the need for post-processing adjustments and minimizes the impact of time drift on log ordering.
3Ease of operation
If a manager node is designated to coordinate the cluster, then log collection and merging is centralized, but the manager node becomes a single point of failure
Solution Approach 1:
The manager node serves as an intermediary for log coordination, simplifying log management operations. To address the single point of failure concern, the system implements redundancy where backup manager nodes can take over if the primary manager fails, ensuring continuous log collection and merging capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system can dynamically change the role assignment of nodes in the cluster. If the manager node fails, the system can promote a different node to become the new manager, changing the operational parameters of the cluster to maintain reliability. This flexibility allows the system to adapt to failures and continue log management operations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution ensures a unified, temporally coherent log is created, providing a comprehensive view of network traffic across the cluster, enhancing log management and analysis by maintaining clock synchronicity and proper ordering of log entries.
Implementation Method 1
The clocks may be synchronized, for example, using the Precision Time Protocol (PTP).
Data Source
AI summary
The systems and methods of the present solution are directed to collecting log information from multiple nodes in a multi-nodal cluster. Generally, a logging process runs to collect log information from multiple nodes in a multi-nodal cluster, e.g., a cluster of appliances. The logging process collects the log information and merges the collected log information to create a coherent unified log. The logging process may run on a node designated for the purpose. The designated node may be internal or external to the cluster. The logging process determines a topology for the cluster, establishes a communication channel with each active intermediary device identified in the topology, collects log entries from each active intermediary device, each log entry comprising information on network traffic traversing the respective intermediary device, and merges the collected log entries into a unified cluster log comprising information on network traffic traversing the cluster.