Virtual NIC Redundancy Control for Single-IP Failover Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
In redundant automation systems, users face difficulties in establishing connections due to the need to know the specific IP address of either the active or standby automation device, leading to connectivity issues when one device fails, and existing solutions require special address management implementations.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a virtual network interface controller that manages a composite hardware address, allowing the system to be addressed via a single IP address, with redundancy managers switching between active and inactive states to ensure high availability and seamless failover without requiring users to know which device is active.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If participants use the primary or secondary IP address of redundant automation devices, then they can establish connections to the active device, but when that device fails, connectivity is lost even though the system remains available
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a virtual network interface controller as an intermediary layer between the physical network interface controllers and the protocol stacks. This virtual controller manages a federated hardware address that remains constant regardless of which physical device is active, shielding participants from address changes and maintaining continuous connectivity through the redundancy manager's automatic address management
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the network interface controller that presents a unified address interface to external participants. This virtual network interface controller replicates the functionality of addressing while maintaining a single federated hardware address, allowing participants to connect to either physical device through the same address without needing to know which device is currently active
2Reliability
If functionally enhanced devices with second IP addresses are used, then connectivity can be maintained during failover, but special address management implementation is required on the devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the addressing functionality of multiple physical network interface controllers into a single virtual network interface controller that presents one federated hardware address. This consolidation eliminates the need for participants to manage multiple IP addresses or implement special address management logic, as the virtual controller handles all address management centrally
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual network interface controller serves as an intermediary that abstracts away the complexity of managing multiple physical addresses. It handles all address management operations internally, including detecting active devices and routing traffic appropriately, while presenting a simple single-address interface to external participants
3Adaptability or versatility
If software-based MAC address filtering is used to manage addresses, then address management is flexible, but system performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces software-based MAC address filtering with hardware-based filtering capability in the network interface controller. The N IC is configured to filter incoming data traffic based on MAC addresses directly in hardware, eliminating the need for software-based filtering and associated performance penalties while maintaining the flexibility of address management
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a control system (1) for controlling a technical installation with a redundant first automation device (11) and second automation device (12), wherein a virtual network interface controller (swNIC1) is arranged in the automation devices between a first network interface controller (NIC1) and a protocol stack (NW-S1), wherein the network interface controller (NIC1, NIC2) is configured to manage a network hardware address (C-MAC) in addition to a standard hardware address (S-MAC-1), so that the control system appears externally as one device despite having two automation devices (11, 12).