Virtual Interface Mapping for VLAN Link Aggregation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing link aggregation technologies cannot bind physical interfaces with different VLAN properties to the same group, leading to transmission load imbalance and inefficient data transmission in environments with multiple virtual machines on a server.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that map physical interfaces with partially identical VLAN properties to an identical data channel through corresponding virtual interfaces, allowing for load balancing and efficient data transmission by creating virtual local area network link aggregation groups (VLAN-LAGs).
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If link aggregation technology binds multiple physical interfaces to the same group, then data transmission efficiency is improved, but the requirement that all interfaces must have completely identical VLAN properties makes the system inflexible and limits the ability to utilize diverse network configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a virtual interface as an intermediary between physical interfaces and data channels. Each physical interface maps to a virtual interface, which then maps to a data channel. This virtual layer acts as a mediator that allows physical interfaces with different VLAN properties to be aggregated into the same data channel, resolving the contradiction by decoupling the VLAN property requirements from the aggregation decision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the traditional direct physical interface to data channel mapping into two stages: first mapping physical interfaces to virtual interfaces, then mapping virtual interfaces to data channels. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each mapping stage and enables interfaces with different VLAN properties to be properly aggregated through the virtual interface layer.
2Adaptability or versatility
If physical interfaces with different VLAN properties are bound to the same link aggregation group, then interface utilization is improved, but transmission load imbalance occurs and some interfaces become idle while others are congested
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter used for aggregation from direct physical interface properties to virtual interface properties. By translating physical interface VLAN properties into virtual interface properties, the system can aggregate interfaces with different original VLAN configurations while maintaining proper load distribution, as the virtual interface layer normalizes the properties before aggregation.
3Productivity
If multiple physical interfaces are bound to link aggregation group, then data transmission efficiency is improved, but the system complexity increases when managing interfaces with different VLAN configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual interface serves as a management intermediary that simplifies the system architecture. Instead of managing complex mappings between physical interfaces with different VLAN properties and data channels directly, the system manages mappings at the virtual interface level, which standardizes the interface properties and reduces management complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of managing data transmission based on virtual local area networks includes obtaining a first VLAN property of a first physical interface and a second VLAN property of a second physical interface; in response to determining the first VLAN property and the second VLAN property are at least partially identical, obtaining a first virtual interface corresponding to the first physical interface and a second virtual interface corresponding to the second physical interface; and mapping the first physical interface and the second physical interface to an identical data channel via the first virtual interface and the second virtual interface, wherein the first physical interface and the second physical interface are located in a same processing device.