Extending VLAN Capacity via 802.1QinQ Grid Identity Tagging
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Solution Overview
Problem
The limitations of the VLAN protocol, such as 802.1Q, restrict the number of available VLAN IDs, leading to scalability issues, suboptimal resource utilization, and increased costs in managing network configurations for hosting services, as they require separate hardware nodes and switches for each grid, which is cumbersome and expensive.
Innovation Solution
The hosting system employs a resource management module that utilizes the 802.1QinQ protocol to extend the number of available VLANs by using a grid identity as an outer VLAN tag and a private/public VLAN identity as an inner VLAN tag, allowing for logical partitioning of hardware resources and enabling the use of universal hardware nodes, thereby overcoming the limitations of physical grids and improving scalability and manageability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate hardware nodes and switches are reserved for each grid, then network configuration reliability is improved, but scalability deteriorates and resource utilization becomes suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network identification space by introducing a grid identity field that works in conjunction with VLAN IDs. This creates a hierarchical segmentation where grid identity provides first-level division and VLAN ID provides second-level division, allowing multiple grids to coexist on shared infrastructure while maintaining logical separation and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes hardware nodes and switches universal by enabling them to serve multiple grids simultaneously. Instead of dedicating switches to single grids, the same switching infrastructure can handle traffic from multiple grids through the grid identity/VLAN ID combination, improving resource utilization while maintaining isolation through logical rather than physical separation.
2Reliability
If separate hardware nodes and switches are reserved for each grid, then network security is improved, but device complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a new dimension to network identification by introducing grid identity as an additional layer beyond traditional VLAN IDs. This dimensional expansion allows the system to maintain security through multi-layer identification (grid identity + VLAN ID) without requiring separate physical infrastructure for each grid, thereby reducing device complexity while preserving security boundaries.
3Ease of manufacture
If VLAN protocol limitations are accepted, then implementation simplicity is maintained, but the number of available VLAN IDs is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested identification structure where grid identity serves as an outer layer and VLAN ID serves as an inner layer. This nesting allows the system to combine the simplicity of existing VLAN protocols with extended identification capacity, effectively multiplying the number of available unique identifiers while maintaining compatibility with standard VLAN infrastructure and implementation simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
Some embodiments provide a hosting system for provisioning and managing servers (e.g., virtual servers, dedicated servers) in a switched network. In some embodiments, the hosting system receives a configuration for one or more servers for a particular entity (e.g., customer, user). The hosting system then identifies a grid identity and a set of virtual local area network (VLAN) identities for the particular entity. The hosting system then deploys the configuration for the one or more servers on one or more grid-specific hardware nodes using the grid identity and the set of VLAN identities. In some embodiments, the hosting system identifies a local VLAN identity that is associated with a grid-independent hardware node, where a grid-independent hardware node and grid-specific hardware nodes may co-exist in the same switched network.