Virtual Network Routing for Dynamic Address-to-Node Association
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Solution Overview
Problem
The management of large-scale computer networks with diverse computing resources has become complicated due to increased scale and scope, particularly in data centers, where provisioning, administering, and managing physical computing resources is inefficient and complex, especially with the advent of virtualization technologies.
Innovation Solution
A configurable network service provides virtual networking devices and routing information to associate network addresses with computing nodes, enabling the emulation of networking functionality without physically implementing the devices, and managing communications through intercepting routing information to dynamically configure the network topology.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If physical networking devices are implemented to manage computer networks, then network functionality and control are provided, but device complexity and management overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual copies of physical networking devices (routers, switches, firewalls) that run as software on standard servers. These virtual device copies provide the same networking functionality as physical devices but with reduced complexity and hardware requirements, allowing network operations to be managed through virtual instances rather than physical hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces physical mechanical networking devices with software-based virtual devices running on general-purpose servers. This substitution eliminates the need for specialized hardware while maintaining networking functionality, reducing device complexity and enabling easier provisioning and management through software configuration rather than physical setup.
2Ease of operation
If physical networking devices are deployed to support network operations, then network control and functionality are ensured, but provisioning and administration become increasingly complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses virtual copies of networking devices that can be rapidly provisioned and configured through software without requiring physical hardware deployment. This copying approach simplifies provisioning and administration by allowing network operators to manage virtual instances through standardized interfaces rather than dealing with complex physical device configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements universal virtual device templates that can be instantiated multiple times with different configurations to serve various network functions. These multi-functional virtual devices can act as routers, switches, firewalls, or load balancers depending on configuration, eliminating the need for separate specialized physical devices for each function and simplifying network management.
3Productivity
If virtualization technologies are used to share physical computing resources, then resource efficiency improves, but managing large-scale computing resources becomes increasingly complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual copies of networking devices that run on shared physical infrastructure, allowing multiple virtual network instances to utilize the same physical resources efficiently. This copying approach maintains resource efficiency while simplifying management by providing standardized virtual device interfaces that can be uniformly provisioned, configured, and monitored across the entire network infrastructure.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are described for providing managed virtual computer networks that have a configured logical network topology with virtual networking devices, such as by a network-accessible configurable network service, with corresponding networking functionality provided for communications between multiple computing nodes of the virtual computer network by emulating functionality that would be provided by the virtual networking devices if they were physically present. In some situations, the networking functionality provided for a managed computer network of a client includes receiving routing communications directed to the virtual networking devices and using included routing information to update the configuration of the managed computer network, such as to allow at least some computing nodes of a managed computer network to dynamically signal particular types of uses of one or more indicated target network addresses and/or to dynamically signal use of particular external public network addresses based on such routing information.