Virtual Switch Upgrade via Pre-initialization and Migration
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Solution Overview
Problem
The current virtual switch upgrade process in 5G core networks requires restarting the virtual switch, leading to service suspension and potential significant downtime, which negatively impacts service reliability and user experience.
Innovation Solution
A method for upgrading a virtual switch by creating and initializing a new-version virtual switch while the old-version is still performing service forwarding, freezing the old-version's service forwarding, migrating virtual machine information, and switching the service forwarding to the new-version virtual switch, thereby minimizing downtime.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the virtual switch is restarted for version upgrade, then the virtual switch can be updated to a new version, but the service forwarding is interrupted and service suspension time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by creating and initializing the new-version virtual switch before the old-version virtual switch is stopped. This allows the new virtual switch to be ready in advance, so that when the old virtual switch is frozen and services are migrated, the new virtual switch can immediately take over without service interruption. The key steps include: creating the new virtual switch instance, initializing its configuration, and preparing it to handle service forwarding before the old virtual switch is decommissioned.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the new-version virtual switch as an intermediary during the upgrade process. Instead of directly replacing the old virtual switch, the new virtual switch is introduced as a temporary mediator that takes over service forwarding. The migration process involves: freezing the old virtual switch, migrating service forwarding from the old to the new virtual switch, and then releasing the old virtual switch. This intermediary approach ensures continuous service availability during the transition.
2Reliability
If the virtual switch process is restarted for fault modification or version upgrade, then the virtual switch can be repaired or updated, but the upper-layer service interaction link becomes unreachable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-creating and initializing the new-version virtual switch with all necessary configurations and service forwarding rules before the old virtual switch is stopped. This ensures that when the old virtual switch is frozen for maintenance or upgrade, the new virtual switch is already prepared and can immediately assume service forwarding responsibilities, keeping upper-layer services accessible throughout the process.
Solution Approach 2:
The new-version virtual switch serves as an intermediary that maintains service accessibility during the old virtual switch's maintenance period. The migration process ensures that service forwarding is smoothly transferred from the old to the new virtual switch, which then acts as the active intermediary handling all service interactions. This allows the old virtual switch to be safely stopped for fault modification or upgrade without making services unreachable.
3Ease of manufacture
If the virtual switch is upgraded using traditional restart method, then the upgrade process is simple, but service forwarding is interrupted during the entire upgrade process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by creating and initializing the new-version virtual switch before stopping the old one. This preparation phase includes copying configuration files, initializing the virtual switch instance, and setting up service forwarding rules in advance. As a result, when the old virtual switch is frozen, the new virtual switch can immediately take over service forwarding without requiring complex real-time configuration transfers, thus maintaining simplicity while avoiding service interruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The new-version virtual switch acts as an intermediary that maintains service forwarding efficiency during the upgrade. The process involves: creating the new virtual switch, freezing the old one, migrating service forwarding to the new virtual switch, and then releasing the old one. This intermediary approach allows service forwarding to continue uninterrupted through the new virtual switch, preserving productivity while enabling the upgrade to proceed with relative simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a method for upgrading a virtual switch, an apparatus, an electronic device and a storage medium. The method for upgrading the virtual switch includes: creating and initializing a new-version virtual switch in a process of a service forwarding work performed by an old-version virtual switch; freezing the service forwarding work of the old-version virtual switch, and migrating virtual machine information in the old-version virtual switch to the new-version virtual switch; the virtual machine information includes information configured for network communication by a virtual machine connected to the old-version virtual switch; and switching the service forwarding work to the new-version virtual switch for execution based on the virtual machine information migrated to the new-version virtual switch and network cards previously migrated from the old-version virtual switch to the new-version virtual switch.