Virtual Distributed Bridging for Hybrid Network Scalability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network virtualization technologies face challenges in seamlessly bridging between logical networks (such as VXLAN) and physical networks (such as VLAN), particularly in hybrid environments where L2 centric protocols are needed, and there is a lack of efficient mechanisms to prevent loops and duplicates in distributed bridging.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a virtual distributed router/bridge (VDRB) module that partitions bridging tasks among virtual distributed bridges (VDBs) based on MAC addresses, using a central network controller to shard MAC addresses and dynamically reassign them in case of failures or changes, and employing mechanisms to prevent packet loops and duplicates by marking packets as bridged.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If bridging tasks are centralized in a single network bridge, then the bridging operation is simple to manage, but the system lacks scalability and becomes a single point of failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the bridging function into multiple Virtual Distributed Bridges (VDBs), each responsible for a specific shard of MAC addresses. This segmentation allows the system to scale horizontally by adding more VDB instances while distributing the bridging workload across multiple nodes, eliminating the single point of failure problem inherent in centralized bridging.
2Adaptability or versatility
If MAC address shards are statically assigned to VDBs, then the assignment is simple and stable, but the system cannot adapt to dynamic failures or workload changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic MAC address shard assignment where the controller can reassign MAC address shards to different VDB instances based on runtime conditions such as node failures or workload changes. This dynamic reassignment capability allows the system to adapt to changing conditions while maintaining balanced load distribution across VDBs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the controller monitors the health and performance of VDB instances and adjusts MAC address shard assignments accordingly. When a VDB fails or performance degrades, the controller detects this through feedback signals and redistributes the failed VDB's MAC address shards to healthy instances, ensuring continuous operation.
3Productivity
If distributed VDBs independently bridge packets, then parallel processing capability increases, but packet loops and duplicates may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a centralized controller as an intermediary that coordinates between distributed VDB instances. The controller maintains the authoritative MAC address shard assignment information and receives forwarding decisions from VDBs. This intermediary ensures that all VDBs operate with consistent information, preventing packet loops and duplicates while maintaining the parallel processing benefits of distributed architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
Virtualization software that includes a VDRB (virtual distributed router/bridge) module for performing L3 routing and/or bridging operations is provided. At least some of the VDRBs are configured as VDBs (virtual distributed bridge) for performing bridging operations between different network segments in a distributed manner. The bridging tasks of a network are partitioned among several VDBs of the network based on MAC addresses. MAC addresses of VMs or other types of network nodes belonging to an overlay logical network are partitioned into several shards, each shard of MAC addresses assigned to a VDB in the network. Each VDB assigned a shard of MAC addresses performs bridging when it receives a packet bearing a MAC address belonging to its assigned shard. A VDB does not perform bridging on packets that do not have MAC address that falls within the VDB's shard of MAC addresses.