VLAN Fail-Over Management in Hybrid SDN Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional networks face convergence time issues during link or switch failures in data centers, which affect the reliability of data transmission due to the need for recalculating VLAN paths.
Innovation Solution
A method for virtual local area network (VLAN) recovery in a hybrid software-defined network (SDN) configuration, where a controller pre-calculates backup paths for all links and switches, enabling quick deployment of backup paths upon failure events, thereby reducing convergence time and improving reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If distributed communication protocol calculation is used for setting VLAN paths, then the system can automatically recalculate paths when failures occur, but the convergence time increases to several seconds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-calculates backup VLAN paths using the distributed communication protocol before any failure occurs. When a link or switch failure is detected, the system immediately switches to the pre-calculated backup path without performing real-time recalculation, thereby reducing convergence time from several seconds to near-instantaneous while maintaining reliable path restoration
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically maintains multiple VLAN path configurations (primary and backup paths) in the switching fabric. Upon failure detection, the system dynamically activates the appropriate backup path based on the specific failure condition, enabling rapid adaptation without full recalculation while ensuring continuous reliable connectivity
2Reliability
If switches exchange information to recalculate paths upon failure, then the VLAN can be restored, but the process takes several seconds which affects data center reliability
Solution Approach 1:
Backup paths are pre-computed and stored in the switching fabric before failures occur. When failures are detected, the system immediately activates pre-prepared backup paths without requiring time-consuming information exchange and recalculation between switches, thus restoring VLAN connectivity almost instantly while maintaining high data transmission reliability
Solution Approach 2:
Each switch maintains local backup path information in its switching fabric, allowing it to independently and immediately activate backup paths upon local failure detection without needing to exchange messages with other switches for recalculation, thereby achieving rapid self-restoration that improves both reliability and productivity
Data Source
AI summary
A method for virtual local area network fail-over management, a system therefor and an apparatus therewith are introduced herein. In the method for virtual local area network fail-over management in a hybrid software-defined network (SDN), a controller with a centralized management authority may manage some fail-over events that occur in each link or switch in a centralized manner. The controller may pre-calculate backup paths for each link or switch in case that fail-over events occur therefrom. Whenever the fail-over event occurs in some specific link or switch, the controller may deploy the pre-calculated backup path in response to the link down or switch down event, which may reduce the convergence recovery time for the VLAN path in case of fail-over events and improve the reliability of data transmission.