VLAN Compression Groups for Switch Port Limits

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Solution Overview

Problem

Physical switches face port VLAN count limitations when managing a large number of virtual local area networks (VLANs), leading to potential data communication interruptions due to overloaded physical ports.

Innovation Solution

Implementing VLAN compression process logic at a physical switch to automatically define VLAN compression groups and assign VLANs to these groups, reducing the port VLAN count by aggregating multiple VLANs into fewer groups, thereby lowering the port VLAN count below the physical switch's limit without manual provisioning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a large number of VLANs are deployed, then network virtualization and flexibility are improved, but the physical ports become overloaded and data communications are interrupted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork virtualization capabilityVSAvoiddata communication continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple VLANs into VLAN compression groups, where multiple individual VLANs are aggregated into a single logical group. This allows the physical switch to treat multiple VLANs as a unified entity, reducing the per-port VLAN count while maintaining support for the expanded total number of VLANs across the network.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces a hierarchical dimension to VLAN management by creating VLAN compression groups that operate at a higher abstraction level. Instead of managing VLANs individually at the port level, the system organizes them into groups, adding a new layer of organization that resolves the port VLAN count limitation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the number of VLANs is increased, then virtual machine reassignment flexibility is improved, but the port VLAN count exceeds the physical switch limit

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevirtual machine reassignment flexibilityVSAvoidport VLAN count

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple VLANs are merged into compression groups, allowing the physical switch to manage a larger total number of VLANs by reducing the effective port VLAN count through aggregation. This enables flexible virtual machine reassignment across many VLANs without exceeding hardware limits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The VLAN compression group acts as an intermediary structure between the virtual machine/VLAN layer and the physical switch port layer. This intermediate abstraction allows the system to translate a large number of individual VLAN assignments into a reduced set of group assignments that fit within physical switch constraints.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If manual VLAN configuration is used, then accuracy and control are improved, but provisioning time and operational complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveVLAN configuration accuracyVSAvoidprovisioning time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-configuration of VLAN compression groups automatically. The physical switch autonomously identifies VLANs, creates compression groups, and assigns them without requiring manual intervention. This self-service approach maintains configuration accuracy through automated validation while significantly reducing provisioning time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary analysis and grouping of VLANs before they are fully configured on the physical switch. By pre-organizing VLANs into compression groups in advance, the system prepares the configuration in a structured manner that ensures accuracy while enabling rapid deployment without manual step-by-step configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8855116B2Virtual local area network state processing in a layer 2 ethernet switch

Publication Date: 2014.10.07 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

A method, apparatus and computer-readable storage media are provided for determining, at a physical switch configured to interface with a plurality of physical servers via a plurality of corresponding physical ports of the physical switch, a number of virtual local area networks (VLANs) serviced by the plurality of physical servers, each of which is configured to service one or more virtual machines in one or more of the VLANs. A plurality of VLAN compression groups are automatically defined such that a port VLAN count of the physical switch is reduced, wherein the port VLAN count identifies a number of VLANs that interface with the physical switch via the plurality of physical ports. The one or more VLANs are automatically assigned to one of the VLAN compression groups.