Virtual NIC Link-Down Control for VM Pause Frame Discard
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication processing systems fail to prevent the transmission of communication frames that were in progress when a virtual machine is paused, leading to potential errors due to outdated information being transmitted, which is critical in real-time control communication.
Innovation Solution
A communication processing device and method that utilize a link-down function for the virtual NIC when a virtual machine is paused, ensuring that communication frames in progress are discarded, and the NIC is linked up only after a predetermined time to ensure proper initialization and prevent duplicate IP addresses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the virtual machine is paused and then resumed, then the virtual machine can be stopped for maintenance or backup without affecting system operation, but old communication frames that were transmitted before the pause may be retransmitted causing incorrect control decisions
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs link-down of the virtual NIC before the virtual machine actually pauses, and link-up after resumption. This preliminary action ensures that any communication frames in the transmission buffer are discarded before the pause occurs, preventing old frames from being retransmitted when the VM resumes, thus maintaining control decision accuracy while allowing VM pausing for maintenance or backup
2Reliability
If the link-down function is used to discard old communication frames, then transmission of outdated frames is prevented, but the virtual machine cannot recognize the pause state and thus cannot properly manage its communication settings
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary mechanism where the virtualization unit manages the link state of the virtual NIC independently from the virtual machine's operational state. The virtualization unit performs link-down/link-up operations on the virtual NIC based on VM pause/resume events, acting as a mediator that ensures communication frame validity without requiring the VM itself to recognize or manage the pause state
3Adaptability or versatility
If communication frames are transmitted during virtual machine pause, then network connectivity is maintained, but outdated frames cause wrong operations in the control system
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by performing link-down of the virtual NIC before the VM pause occurs. This preemptive measure blocks the transmission path for communication frames, preventing outdated frames from being transmitted during the pause period and thus avoiding incorrect control operations, while still allowing the VM to maintain its network configuration for quick resumption
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a communication processing device capable of preventing, by using a link-down function of a virtual NIC, communication frames that were in the process of being transmitted prior to pause of a virtual machine from being transmitted. The disclosed communication processing device 100 has a virtualization unit 10 that provides operating environment of virtual machines 20-1 and 20-2. The virtualization unit 10 includes a processing unit 11, the virtual machines 20-1 and 20-2 include virtual NICs 24-1, 24-2-1 and 24-2-2, and when the virtual machines 20-1 and 20-2 are paused, the processing unit 11 links down the virtual NICs 24-1, 24-2-1 and 24-2-2 of the virtual machines 20-1 and 20-2 paused.