Unified Router Farm Virtualization for Network Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional network management systems face challenges in efficiently configuring and managing routers due to complex and tedious individual configurations, especially in large and dynamic networks, where layer-3 services require intricate settings that are hard to scale and maintain.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a unified router farm (URF) that virtualizes multiple routers or switches as a single logical router, using a master-slave architecture where a master node calculates and distributes layer-2 and layer-3 forwarding tables, allowing for centralized control and management, thereby hiding internal network topology and facilitating plug-and-play services.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If traditional router configuration mode is used, then each router can be independently controlled, but the configuration process becomes tedious and complex requiring manual intervention
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple individual routers are merged into a single virtualized router entity. The patent implements a router farm where multiple physical routers are virtualized and managed as one unified router, allowing centralized configuration and control. This merging eliminates the need for manual configuration of each individual router while maintaining independent control capabilities through the virtualized interface.
2Ease of operation
If layer-3 services are implemented with traditional routing protocols, then routing functionality is achieved, but the network topology becomes exposed and difficult to manage
Solution Approach 1:
A virtualized routing layer is introduced as an intermediary between physical routers and network management systems. This virtualized layer abstracts the complex physical topology while providing simplified layer-3 routing services. The intermediary virtual router manages the mapping between physical devices and logical routing functions, hiding internal topology details from administrators.
Solution Approach 2:
The routing function is segmented into separate virtualized components that can be independently managed. The patent divides routing operations into distinct virtual router instances, each handling specific routing tasks. This segmentation allows complex routing functionality to be distributed across multiple manageable units while presenting a simplified unified interface for administration.
3Extent of automation
If multiple routers are virtualized as a single logical router, then centralized control is achieved, but the internal topology must be hidden from external systems
Solution Approach 1:
The virtualized router acts as an intermediary layer that mediates between external network systems and internal physical routers. It provides centralized control by collecting topology information from all physical routers while presenting a unified simplified interface to external systems. The virtual router translates external control commands into appropriate actions across the physical router farm without exposing internal topology details.
Data Source
AI summary
One embodiment of the present invention provides a computing system. The computing system includes a processor, a memory, a logical switch management mechanism, and a layer-2 path management mechanism. The logical switch management mechanism operates the computing system in conjunction with a plurality of remote switches as a single logical switch. The layer-2 path management mechanism includes a path calculation mechanism and a layer-2 forwarding table. The path calculation mechanism calculates layer-2 shortest paths among the computing system and the remote switches. The layer-2 forwarding table is for a first switch in the plurality of remote switches and created based on one or more of the shortest paths, wherein a respective entry in the forwarding table corresponds to a layer-2 network address. The layer-2 path management mechanism suppresses advertisement of the shortest paths outside of the logical switch, thereby hiding internal paths of the logical switch.