Virtual Network Forwarding Tables With Default Route Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
As networks grow in complexity and size due to increased demand for data, managing and maintaining accurate and efficient forwarding tables becomes increasingly difficult, especially in virtual networks, leading to inefficient routing and potential errors like route flaps and network loops.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a forwarding scheme that limits the size and complexity of forwarding tables by only including local entries and a default route, allowing virtual networking devices to identify next hops for packets while handling non-local traffic through a default forwarder function, thereby reducing the need for extensive information sharing across the network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If forwarding tables include all network entries to ensure complete routing information, then routing accuracy is improved, but forwarding table size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The forwarding table is segmented into two distinct parts: local entries that contain detailed routing information for locally-connected virtual machines, and a default route that handles all non-local traffic. This segmentation allows the table to maintain routing accuracy for local traffic while avoiding the complexity of storing all possible network entries locally.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the detailed routing information for non-local traffic from the local forwarding table and places it in a centralized directory service. The local forwarding table retains only local entries and a default route, removing the burden of storing and managing complete routing information while preserving routing accuracy through the default route mechanism.
2Ease of operation
If forwarding tables are kept small and simple by limiting entries, then ease of management is improved, but routing completeness may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a default route as an intermediary mechanism that forwards non-local traffic to a centralized directory service. This default route acts as a mediator between the simplified local forwarding table and the complete network routing information, ensuring that routing completeness is maintained without requiring the local table to store all possible routes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service by allowing the default route to automatically forward unknown traffic to the directory service, which then provides the appropriate routing information. This eliminates the need for manual management of complete routing tables while ensuring routing completeness through automated information retrieval.
3Measurement precision
If extensive directory information is shared across the network to maintain accurate routing, then routing accuracy is improved, but network traffic overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by storing detailed routing information only where it is most needed - in the centralized directory service rather than distributed across all network devices. Each device maintains only local entries and a default route, reducing redundant storage and minimizing the quantity of routing information that needs to be transmitted and synchronized across the network.
4Reliability
If complete forwarding tables are maintained to prevent routing errors, then routing reliability is improved, but device resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The forwarding functionality is segmented between local devices and a centralized directory service. Local devices maintain minimal forwarding tables with only local entries and default routes, significantly reducing memory and processing requirements. The centralized directory service maintains the complete routing information, distributing the resource burden away from individual network devices while preserving routing reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for forwarding tables for virtual networking devices. The system first identifies local virtual machines hosted on a local host connected to the system, the system having virtual tunneling capabilities. The system then generates a forwarding table for the system. Next, the system populates the forwarding table with local entries including bindings for the local virtual machines hosted on the local host and adds a default route in the forwarding table pointing to a default forwarder function, wherein the default route is configured to handle all non-local traffic relative to the system and the local host.