Virtual Network Device Clusters for Loop-Free Packet Forwarding
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Solution Overview
Problem
The management of redundant components in networks becomes complex when multiple redundant links or devices are active simultaneously, leading to issues such as bridging loops and increased complexity in network management.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of virtual network device clusters, where multiple virtual network device sub-units operate as a single logical device, using identifiers to associate packets and prevent loops, and calculating multiple spanning trees to manage packet forwarding efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple redundant links are active simultaneously to provide increased bandwidth, then network reliability and bandwidth are improved, but management complexity increases due to the need to avoid bridging loops
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple virtual network device sub-units are merged into a single logical network device, allowing them to function as one unified entity. This consolidation enables multiple redundant links to remain active for improved reliability and bandwidth while the unified logical device manages loop prevention centrally, thus avoiding the management complexity that would arise from coordinating multiple independent devices.
Solution Approach 2:
A logical network device acts as an intermediary that coordinates packet forwarding across multiple physical sub-units. This intermediary layer implements loop prevention mechanisms and manages the redundant links centrally, allowing the underlying physical infrastructure to provide high reliability and bandwidth while the intermediary abstracts away the management complexity.
2Reliability
If multiple redundant routers are simultaneously used in a network, then network reliability is improved, but management complexity increases due to the need to have a different point of management for each network device
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple physical router sub-units are merged into a single logical router device, providing a unified point of management. This allows the network to benefit from redundant hardware for reliability while presenting a single management interface, thereby improving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The logical network device provides universal management functionality across multiple physical sub-units. A single logical device performs the management functions that would otherwise need to be performed separately on each physical device, enabling centralized configuration, monitoring, and control while maintaining the reliability benefits of redundant hardware.
3Productivity
If multiple copies of a packet are sent through different virtual network device sub-units, then bandwidth utilization is improved, but packet duplication occurs which complicates network operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical packet duplication with virtualization-based packet handling. A single logical network device virtually distributes packets across multiple physical sub-units using virtual switching and routing mechanisms. This allows efficient bandwidth utilization through parallel processing while the logical device ensures each packet is delivered exactly once, avoiding the complexity of managing multiple independent physical devices that might duplicate packets.
Data Source
AI summary
A virtual network device cluster includes several different virtual network device sub-units, which collectively operate as a single logical network device. The virtual network device cluster identifies the virtual network device sub-unit via which a given packet enters the virtual network device cluster. A packet is forwarded through the virtual network device cluster based on which virtual network device sub-unit has been identified for that packet. In one embodiment, a method involves receiving a packet via a first interface of a first one of several virtual network device sub-units of a virtual network device and associating the packet with the first one of the virtual network device sub-units. The method also involves inhibiting the packet from being sent via an interface of one of the virtual network device sub-units, in response to the packet being associated with the first one of the virtual network device sub-units.