Virtual Switch Integration Bridge for Service Function Chaining

Solution Overview

Problem

Service chain traffic in virtual network environments often experiences bottlenecks and increased latency due to the necessity of routing through virtual routers when service functions are deployed across different subnetworks, leading to inefficient data transfer.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a virtual switch integration bridge that allows packets to bypass virtual routers by changing the destination MAC address and VNI, enabling direct transmission between service functions or virtual machines across subnetworks using switch rules to steer traffic from an egress port of one service function to the ingress port of another, thereby avoiding virtual router transit.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If service chain traffic is routed through virtual routers when service functions are deployed across different subnetworks, then subnetwork interconnection is achieved, but traffic throughput decreases and latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesubnetwork interconnectionVSAvoidtraffic throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the network path by separating the service function chaining traffic from the virtual router routing path. It creates a dedicated service function chain path that bypasses the virtual router, allowing service functions to be chained across subnetworks without undergoing traditional router-based inter-subnetwork forwarding. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by maintaining subnetwork interconnection reliability through virtual routers for other traffic while creating a high-speed direct path for service chain traffic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a service function chain controller as an intermediary that manages and orchestrates the service function chains across subnetworks. This controller establishes direct forwarding paths between service functions on different subnetworks without requiring traffic to pass through virtual routers, thereby maintaining subnetwork interconnection while eliminating the throughput bottleneck at router nodes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If service chain traffic is routed through virtual routers when service functions are deployed across different subnetworks, then subnetwork interconnection is achieved, but latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesubnetwork interconnectionVSAvoidtraffic latency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the network path by separating the service function chaining traffic from the virtual router routing path. It creates a dedicated service function chain path that bypasses the virtual router, allowing service functions to be chained across subnetworks without undergoing traditional router-based inter-subnetwork forwarding. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by maintaining subnetwork interconnection reliability through virtual routers for other traffic while creating a high-speed direct path for service chain traffic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables service chain traffic to skip the virtual router nodes entirely by establishing direct forwarding paths between service functions on different subnetworks. This skipping mechanism eliminates the routing delays and processing latency that would otherwise occur at virtual router nodes, while subnetwork interconnection is still maintained through the underlying network infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

3Adaptability or versatility

If virtual routers are used for interconnecting subnetworks in service chains, then routing between subnetworks is enabled, but bottlenecks occur at virtual router nodes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverouting capabilityVSAvoidtraffic throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the network traffic into two categories: general traffic that requires virtual router routing for subnetwork interconnection, and service function chain traffic that uses dedicated direct paths. This segmentation allows the virtual routers to maintain their routing capability for general traffic while service chain traffic bypasses them entirely, eliminating the bottlenecks at virtual router nodes without sacrificing routing versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a multi-functional network architecture where virtual routers continue to provide routing services for general traffic while a separate service function chain mechanism provides high-speed direct paths for service traffic. This universal approach allows the network to handle both routed traffic and service chain traffic simultaneously, maintaining routing capability while eliminating bottlenecks for service functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10397108B2Service function chaining across multiple subnetworks

Publication Date: 2019.08.27 HUAWEI CLOUD COMPUTING TECHNOLOGIES CO LTD

AI summary

A method for service function chaining across subnetworks includes receiving a packet at a virtual switch integration bridge from a first service function (SF) that is in a service function chain (SFC) and that is on a first subnetwork, determining a next SF in the SFC in a different subnetwork, and sending the received packet directly from the virtual switch integration bridge to the next SF.