Virtual Switch Overlay Scalability via Physical Switch Offload

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current network virtualization solutions in data centers are limited by the 4K VLAN ID limit, leading to scalability issues, high costs, interoperability problems, and resource inefficiencies, particularly when dealing with large numbers of virtual machines (VMs) and older hardware that lacks packet offload support.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system where a server running a virtualization platform creates and manages virtual machines (VMs) with assigned MAC addresses and VLAN IDs, using a portion of the MAC address or VLAN ID as a tenant ID, allowing edge physical switches to manage tunnel endpoints and eliminate the need for additional headers, thereby supporting more than 4000 VMs without modifying existing virtual switches.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If network virtualization is implemented using overlay tunnels with 24-bit VNID, then the number of supported VMs increases beyond 4000, but the processing load on the virtualization platform increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of supported VMsVSAvoidprocessing load on virtualization platform

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the tunnel endpoint functionality from the virtualization platform software and relocates it to the physical switch hardware. This extraction moves the processing burden from the virtualization platform to the network infrastructure, allowing the platform to handle more VMs without proportionally increasing its processing load.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces physical switches as intermediary devices that perform tunnel endpoint functions. These switches act as mediators between the virtualization platform and the overlay network, handling packet encapsulation and decapsulation locally without requiring centralized processing through the virtualization platform.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If overlay functionality is implemented within the virtualization platform, then network virtualization is achieved, but resource requirements increase and processor cycles are consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork virtualization capabilityVSAvoidprocessor cycles consumed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the software-based tunnel endpoint implementation in the virtualization platform with hardware-based implementation in physical switches. This substitution moves the processing from software (consuming CPU cycles) to network hardware (handling packets in forwarding plane), reducing the computational burden on server processors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If existing virtual switches are modified to support overlay functionality, then network virtualization is enabled, but cost increases and interoperability issues arise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoverlay network supportVSAvoidvirtualization platform modifications

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes physical switches universal by enabling them to perform multiple functions: traditional L2 switching and overlay tunnel endpoint functions. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for specialized virtualization platform modifications, as the same physical switch infrastructure handles both conventional and virtualized networking tasks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of modifying virtual switches to provide overlay functionality, the patent inverts the approach by having physical switches provide tunnel endpoint functions. This reversal eliminates the need to change virtualization platform software while achieving the same network virtualization goals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS9116727B2Scalable network overlay virtualization using conventional virtual switches

Publication Date: 2015.08.25 LENOVO GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES SWITZERLAND INTERNATIONAL GMBH

AI summary

In one embodiment, a system includes a server running a virtualization platform, the virtualization platform including logic adapted for creating one or more virtual machines (VMs) and logic adapted for managing a virtual switch (vSwitch), a controller in communication with the server, the controller including logic adapted for assigning a media access control (MAC) address and a virtual local area network (VLAN) identifier (ID) to each of the one or more VMs, wherein a specific tenant to which the one or more VMs belongs is indicated using a tenant ID derived from the VLAN ID, the MAC address, or a combination thereof. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are also described according to more embodiments.