Virtual Overlay Network for Public IP Address Conservation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The management of public IP addresses in virtual data centers is inefficient due to their limited availability and the financial incentive to reduce their usage, especially in cloud computing environments where hundreds or thousands of virtual data centers require separate public IP addresses for external communications.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilize a virtual overlay network to route communications between virtual data centers and a public network through a virtual edge router, where only one virtual edge router is assigned a public IP address, allowing all virtual data centers to communicate with the public network efficiently by translating private IP addresses to virtual overlay network IP addresses and then to the public IP address of the virtual edge router.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If each virtual data center is assigned a separate public IP address, then external communication capability is ensured, but public IP address consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple virtual data centers share a single public IP address through the virtual overlay network. The virtual edge router consolidates external communication for multiple virtual data centers, allowing them to pool resources and communicate with the public network using one shared public IP address instead of requiring individual assignments.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual overlay network acts as an intermediary layer between virtual data centers and the public network. It introduces virtual IP addresses that translate to the shared public IP address, enabling multiple virtual data centers to access external networks through a mediation mechanism that conserves public IP address resources.
2Quantity of substance
If public IP addresses are reduced to conserve resources, then cost is reduced, but communication routing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual overlay network serves as an intermediary that abstracts the complexity of routing multiple virtual data centers through a single public IP address. It introduces a virtual addressing layer that handles translation and routing automatically, shielding end systems from the underlying routing complexity while conserving public IP addresses.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a virtual overlay network dimension that sits between the traditional network layers. This additional dimension provides virtual IP addressing and routing capabilities, allowing multiple virtual data centers to be routed through a single public IP address without increasing complexity at the physical network level.
3Quantity of substance
If a single public IP address is shared among multiple virtual data centers, then public IP address conservation is achieved, but address translation overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual overlay network implements self-service mechanisms where virtual edge routers automatically perform address translation between virtual IP addresses and the shared public IP address. The system manages its own routing and translation requirements without external intervention, efficiently handling the translation overhead through automated processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the addressing parameter from physical public IP addresses to virtual overlay IP addresses. This parameter change enables flexible translation and routing at the virtual layer, allowing efficient management of public IP address conservation while handling translation overhead through software-based virtual addressing mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
System and method for managing public internet protocol (IP) addresses for a group of virtual data centers utilize a virtual overlay network to route communications between the virtual data centers and a public network through a virtual edge router of one of the virtual data centers using a public IP address assigned to that virtual edge router.