Virtual Network Emulation for Physical Topology Simulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network management systems lack the ability to simulate changes to physical networks before implementing them, making it difficult to predict and test modifications without affecting the actual network.
Innovation Solution
A virtual network management system that receives information about physical network devices, generates configuration data, and creates a virtual network using virtual machines to emulate the physical network, allowing users to make changes and simulate these changes before applying them to the physical network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If changes are made directly to the physical network, then network management efficiency is improved, but the risk of network failures and instability increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual network that replicates the physical network topology and devices, allowing administrators to test and validate configuration changes in the virtual environment before applying them to the physical network. This preliminary action in the virtual network prevents direct risky changes to the physical network, thereby maintaining stability while enabling efficient change management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent generates a virtual copy of the physical network that mirrors its topology, devices, and configurations. This virtual replica serves as a safe testing ground where changes can be experimented with without affecting the actual physical network, thus resolving the contradiction between management efficiency and network stability.
2Reliability
If a virtual network is created to simulate changes, then network stability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical network manipulation with virtual network operations. Instead of directly configuring physical devices which is complex and risky, the system uses software-based virtual network models that can be modified, tested, and validated programmatically, reducing operational complexity while maintaining stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual network system serves multiple functions: it replicates the physical network topology, enables change simulation, provides a testing environment, and facilitates change validation. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate systems into a single unified platform, managing complexity while delivering comprehensive network management capabilities.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If changes are tested in a virtual environment, then the risk of harmful factors is reduced, but the time required for change implementation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where changes are first applied to the virtual network, validated for correctness and stability, and only then propagated to the physical network. This feedback loop ensures that erroneous changes are detected and corrected in the virtual environment before affecting the physical network, reducing failures while the automated feedback process minimizes time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
By performing change validation in advance in the virtual network, the system prevents failed changes from being applied to the physical network. This preliminary validation avoids the time loss that would result from correcting failures after they occur in the physical network, as changes are tested and approved before implementation.
Data Source
AI summary
One or more devices are configured to receive information regarding network devices associated with a physical network. The one or more devices are configured further to generate configuration data based on the information regarding the network devices. The one or more devices are configured further to generate a virtual network based on the configuration data. The one or more devices are configured to send information regarding the virtual network to a client device. The one or more devices are configured to receive a change to the virtual network from the client device; and cause a change, corresponding to the change in the virtual network, to occur in the physical network.