Virtual Port Group Abstraction for Data Center Network Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
In cloud data centers, configuring network devices and servers is complex and time-consuming, requiring administrators to manage multiple physical and logical interfaces, which can lead to errors and scalability issues.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a virtual port group abstraction model that simplifies the management of physical and logical interfaces, allowing administrators to define and configure connectivity without directly managing the underlying physical infrastructure, using a Software-Defined Networking (SDN) controller to automate configuration actions across multiple interfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If administrators directly manage multiple physical and logical interfaces, then configuration control is precise, but configuration complexity and time consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a virtual port group as an intermediary abstraction layer between administrators and the underlying physical/logical interfaces. This virtual port group models the connectivity requirements without exposing the complexity of individual interfaces, allowing administrators to configure network connectivity through a simplified interface while the SDN controller handles the complex mapping to physical infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the configuration management into two distinct layers: a simplified virtual port group layer for administrator interaction, and the underlying physical/logical interface layer for actual network connectivity. This segmentation allows each layer to be managed independently, reducing the complexity administrators face while maintaining precise control over the physical infrastructure.
2Productivity
If administrators manage detailed physical infrastructure, then configuration precision is high, but scalability to large data centers is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy (virtual port group) that represents the essential connectivity requirements without requiring administrators to manage the actual physical infrastructure details. This virtual model captures the necessary configuration information while abstracting away the complex physical layer, enabling faster configuration that can scale to large data centers without proportionally increasing administrative burden.
3Reliability
If multiple physical and logical interfaces are configured individually, then configuration accuracy is maintained, but error rate increases due to complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the configuration of multiple physical and logical interfaces into a single virtual port group object. This consolidation maintains configuration accuracy by preserving all necessary interface mappings and connectivity requirements within the virtual model, while reducing the number of individual configuration operations administrators must perform, thereby decreasing the opportunity for errors.
Data Source
AI summary
A virtual port group abstraction can facilitate automated configuration of devices in a data center. For example, a data center administrator can define a virtual port group to include a set of logical and physical interfaces for devices allocated to a particular department or other group within a company. An administrator for the department can then utilize a user interface to perform actions with respect to the virtual port group. The actions can include configuration actions, modeling actions and/or deployment actions. An action received by a network management controller such as a Software-Defined Networking (SDN) controller can be converted into the appropriate actions for the relevant logical and physical interfaces that are configured to be part of the virtual port group.