Virtual Network Probing for Seamless Controller Failover
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Solution Overview
Problem
In a networking environment, existing technologies fail to ensure seamless failover of client devices to backup network controllers without service disruption when a primary network controller fails, particularly in determining the connectivity state of network controllers within a cluster to facilitate efficient failover processes.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an intelligent probing mechanism within network controllers to identify and manage virtual local area networks (VLANs) enabled across the cluster, focusing on user VLANs to determine layer 2 connectivity, which enables seamless failover by ensuring that client devices remain connected without authentication processes during a failover event.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If network controllers probe all virtual networks to determine connectivity state, then failover reliability is improved, but probing time and service disruption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and focuses probing operations only on user VLANs that are enabled on all network controllers in the cluster, rather than probing all virtual networks. This selective approach removes unnecessary probing overhead while maintaining the ability to determine layer 2 connectivity state accurately for failover purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the virtual networks into different categories (user VLANs versus other VLANs) and applies probing only to the relevant segment. By dividing the network namespace and focusing on user-facing VLANs, the system reduces probing complexity and time while maintaining failover reliability.
2Measurement precision
If network controllers probe all virtual networks, then connectivity state determination is thorough, but device complexity and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential probing target (user VLANs enabled on all controllers) from the complete set of virtual networks. This extraction maintains connectivity state determination precision by focusing on the critical path for failover while reducing the complexity of the probing mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by probing only a subset of virtual networks (user VLANs) rather than all virtual networks. This partial probing is sufficient to determine layer 2 connectivity state for failover purposes, reducing processing overhead and device complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
3Reliability
If comprehensive virtual network probing is performed, then failover accuracy is improved, but service disruption during probing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and probes only user VLANs that are enabled on all network controllers, avoiding probing of other VLANs. This reduces the scope of probing operations, minimizing service disruption while maintaining failover accuracy by focusing on the critical user-facing networks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs partial probing on user VLANs rather than comprehensive probing of all virtual networks. This partial action is sufficient to determine connectivity state for failover accuracy while reducing service disruption during the probing process.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is disclosed. The method may comprise identifying a plurality of network devices in a cluster of network devices. In some examples, the method may comprise identifying any virtual local area networks (VLANs) that are enabled on each of the plurality of network devices in the cluster of network devices. In some examples, the method may comprise, for each identified VLAN, determine a set of network devices accessible on a respective VLAN. In some examples, the method may comprise probing the respective VLAN in response to the respective VLAN being accessible by each network device in the cluster of network devices. A network device and a machine-readable medium are also disclosed.