Virtual Network Testbed Nodes for Complex Topology Validation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Prior art network testbeds fail to fully replicate large and complex network environments due to limitations in physical devices and manual configuration, leading to incomplete validation and verification of network designs.
Innovation Solution
A network testbed creation and validation process using virtual testbed nodes executed via physical infrastructure nodes, allowing for rapid configuration and reconfiguration without altering the physical infrastructure, enabling the creation of large-scale and topologically complex test networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If physical network devices are used to replicate network topology, then network validation accuracy is improved, but device quantity and configuration complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the production network environment using virtual machines and virtual network devices. This virtual replica maintains topological and functional equivalence to the physical network, enabling comprehensive validation without requiring proportional physical hardware. The virtual environment can be rapidly provisioned and configured through automation, eliminating manual configuration complexity while preserving validation accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces physical mechanical network devices with virtualized network functions running on standardized hardware platforms. Virtual switches, routers, and network devices substitute for physical counterparts, allowing the same network topology to be replicated without acquiring and manually configuring equivalent physical equipment. This substitution maintains validation fidelity while dramatically reducing device complexity and acquisition costs.
2Reliability
If physical network devices are used to replicate network topology, then network validation accuracy is improved, but expense increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the production network environment using virtual machines and virtual network devices. This virtual replica maintains topological and functional equivalence to the physical network, enabling comprehensive validation without requiring proportional physical hardware. The virtual environment can be rapidly provisioned and configured through automation, eliminating manual configuration complexity while preserving validation accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs virtualized network functions that can be deployed across standardized hardware platforms, making the testbed infrastructure universally applicable. The same physical hardware can host multiple virtual network environments, allowing a single expense to support validation of multiple network configurations and topologies. This multi-functionality maximizes the utility of hardware investments while eliminating the need for dedicated physical devices for each validation scenario.
3Manufacturing precision
If manual configuration is used to set up network testbed, then configuration precision is improved, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements pre-configured virtual machine images and automated provisioning scripts that contain network configuration parameters, topology definitions, and device settings. These preliminary configurations are prepared in advance and can be rapidly deployed through automation tools, eliminating time-consuming manual configuration steps while maintaining precision through validated template-based setups. The automation ensures consistent replication of production network characteristics across virtual testbed instances.
4Reliability
If full-scale physical replication is attempted, then validation completeness is improved, but device quantity requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the production network environment using virtual machines and virtual network devices. This virtual replica maintains topological and functional equivalence to the physical network, enabling comprehensive validation without requiring proportional physical hardware. The virtual environment can be rapidly provisioned and configured through automation, eliminating manual configuration complexity while preserving validation accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent consolidates multiple virtual network devices and functions onto shared physical hardware infrastructure. Virtual switches, routers, and network functions are merged into a unified virtualized environment that runs on standardized servers and storage systems. This consolidation achieves full-scale validation capability while using a fraction of the physical devices that would be required for traditional physical replication, as virtual resources can be densely packed and dynamically allocated.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of network testbed creation and validation processes are described herein. A “network testbed” is a replicated environment used to validate a target network or an aspect of its design. Embodiments describe a network testbed that comprises virtual testbed nodes executed via a plurality of physical infrastructure nodes. The virtual testbed nodes utilize these hardware resources as a network “fabric,” thereby enabling rapid configuration and reconfiguration of the virtual testbed nodes without requiring reconfiguration of the physical infrastructure nodes. Thus, in contrast to prior art solutions which require a tester manually build an emulated environment of physically connected network devices, embodiments receive or derive a target network description and build out a replica of this description using virtual testbed nodes executed via the physical infrastructure nodes. This process allows for the creation of very large (e.g., tens of thousands of network elements) and/or very topologically complex test networks.