Virtual Switch Bandwidth Allocation for Heterogeneous VMs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cloud computing networks face challenges in efficiently allocating bandwidth to tenants due to varying network load and usage, leading to inconsistent bandwidth for virtual machines, which hinders efficient operation and mission-critical activities.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize virtual switches to manage physical servers hosting virtual machines, where each virtual switch calculates allocation ranges to determine whether to accept bandwidth requests for heterogeneous VMs, allowing for discontinuous VM allocation and optimizing bandwidth allocation based on available resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If host based virtualization technologies are used to maximize resource utilization, then economic benefits and resource utilization are improved, but network bandwidth for virtual machines varies significantly over time, hindering efficient operation and mission critical activities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network bandwidth allocation by introducing virtual switches that independently manage bandwidth for different virtual machines. Each virtual switch maintains separate bandwidth allocation tables and control mechanisms, allowing individual VMs to receive guaranteed bandwidth portions while sharing the physical network infrastructure. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by enabling both high resource utilization through sharing and reliable bandwidth consistency through isolated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic bandwidth allocation where virtual switches continuously monitor network conditions and adjust bandwidth allocation in real-time. The system dynamically provisions bandwidth based on current network load, VM priorities, and service level agreements, ensuring that each VM receives consistent bandwidth for mission-critical activities while maximizing overall resource utilization through flexible adjustment.
2Device complexity
If the same physical routers and links are deployed to carry traffic for all customers indistinguishably, then infrastructure complexity is reduced, but guaranteed network resources cannot be provided to tenants
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces virtual switches as intermediary devices between the physical network infrastructure and virtual machines. These virtual switches act as mediators that translate simple physical network connections into complex bandwidth allocation schemes. The virtual switches maintain allocation tables, enforce bandwidth guarantees, and manage traffic prioritization, thereby providing adaptable bandwidth allocation to tenants while keeping the underlying physical infrastructure relatively simple and unified.
3Ease of operation
If bandwidth is allocated without considering heterogeneous requirements, then allocation process is simplified, but service quality and resource utilization efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allowing different bandwidth allocation policies and parameters for different virtual machines based on their specific requirements. Each VM can be configured with tailored bandwidth guarantees, priorities, and allocation rules according to its service level agreement and application needs. This localized customization improves service quality and resource utilization efficiency while the virtual switch maintains overall allocation simplicity through automated policy enforcement.
Data Source
AI summary
A method implemented by a network service provider to provide a virtual network to tenants requiring bandwidth in a cloud computing environment, where the virtual network includes a first set of one or more virtual switches that manage a second set of one or more physical servers that host virtual machines (VMs). The method starts with receiving by one virtual switch a request for a first plurality of VMs, where at least one VM of the first plurality of VMs contains a bandwidth different from bandwidths of the rest of one or more VMs. The it is determined whether to accept the request for the first plurality of VMs by calculating a set of allocation ranges (ARs) associated to the virtual switch, wherein each AR of the set of ARs denotes at least one discontinuous VM allocation space within a virtual switch. Then VMs are allocated for the request.