Virtual Switch Proxy Maintains Connectivity During Updates

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Solution Overview

Problem

The process of updating a virtual switch in a virtual networking layer often disrupts network connectivity for hosts and virtual machines, leading to downtime and potential data loss, which is problematic for cloud service providers who must maintain minimal connectivity to avoid service agreements and revenue losses.

Innovation Solution

A virtual networking layer architecture that includes a virtual switch and a virtual switch proxy, along with an orchestration agent, which pauses network traffic, saves state information for network adapters, unloads and loads new versions of the virtual switch, and resumes traffic, maintaining apparent connectivity during servicing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the virtual switch is updated by disabling network adapters and reloading the virtual switch, then the virtual switch can be serviced with new versions, but network connectivity is interrupted causing downtime and application disruption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevirtual switch version update capabilityVSAvoidnetwork connectivity continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the virtual networking functionality into two independent components: the virtual switch (which can be updated) and the network adapter drivers (which maintain connectivity). By separating these functions, the virtual switch can be reloaded without affecting the network adapter's ability to maintain network connections, thus allowing version updates without interrupting service.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by loading the new virtual switch version into memory before disabling the old one. The new virtual switch is prepared and validated in advance, ensuring that when the transition occurs, network connectivity is immediately restored without interruption. This preliminary preparation eliminates downtime during the update process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of repair

If network adapters are disabled to service the virtual switch, then the virtual switch can be maintained and updated, but applications experience downtime and may lose data or state

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevirtual switch maintenance capabilityVSAvoidapplication downtime

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system maintains continuous network connectivity during virtual switch servicing by keeping the network adapter drivers active and running. While the virtual switch is updated in the background, the network adapter continues to process network traffic, ensuring that applications experience no interruption in network service and can maintain their operational state without downtime or data loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The network adapter driver acts as an intermediary between the virtual switch and the network hardware. During virtual switch updates, this intermediary layer remains active and continues to manage network traffic, buffering and forwarding packets even when the virtual switch is being reloaded. This intermediary function ensures seamless continuity of network service despite the virtual switch being serviced.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If the virtual switch is reloaded to swap versions, then new functionality and bug fixes can be deployed, but network connections are torn down and must be re-established

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevirtual switch update deploymentVSAvoidconnection management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary loading of the new virtual switch version into memory before the old version is unloaded. This advance preparation ensures that when the virtual switch transition occurs, the new version is already ready to immediately handle network traffic, avoiding connection teardown and re-establishment. The new virtual switch is pre-configured and validated before becoming active.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a copy of the virtual switch in memory with the new version while the original remains active. This copy mechanism allows the new virtual switch to be prepared and tested without affecting existing connections. Once the copy is ready, the system switches to the new version seamlessly, eliminating the need to tear down and re-establish network connections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS10666560B2Maintaining apparent connectivity during virtual switch servicing

Publication Date: 2020.05.26 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

Various innovations for servicing of a virtual switch in a virtual networking layer are presented. The innovations include new architectures for a virtual networking layer and new operations performed when servicing a virtual switch. In some example implementations, during virtual switch servicing, interruption to actual network connectivity is minimal—below a timeout threshold that signifies failure of a network connection. Connections for a host, VMs, and physical network adapter can be maintained while the virtual switch is serviced. Although some interruption to actual network connectivity happens, apparent connectivity (for a VM) over a connection between the VM and the virtual switch can be maintained during the servicing of the virtual switch. Similarly, apparent connectivity (for a host) over a connection between the host and the virtual switch can be maintained during the servicing of the virtual switch.