VLAN Port Aggregation Bandwidth Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In computer systems with teamed communication ports, existing technologies require all ports to belong to every virtual local area network (VLAN) for fault tolerance and equal bandwidth access, leading to inefficient bandwidth allocation and management, especially when different VLANs have varying bandwidth requirements.
Innovation Solution
Implement VLAN-level port aggregation, where specific ports are assigned to specific VLANs, allowing message packets to be transmitted exclusively over assigned ports, and optionally load-balancing across these ports, while maintaining redundancy and equal access for all VLANs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all ports are assigned to all VLANs for fault tolerance, then reliability is improved, but bandwidth allocation efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the assignment of ports to VLANs by creating a mapping between VLANs and sets of ports. Each VLAN is assigned to a specific subset of ports rather than all ports, allowing for differentiated bandwidth allocation while maintaining fault tolerance through the segmented port-VLAN relationships.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different port sets to different VLANs based on their specific bandwidth requirements. High-bandwidth VLANs receive access to more ports or higher-capacity ports, while low-bandwidth VLANs receive fewer ports, optimizing bandwidth allocation efficiency while maintaining reliability.
2Ease of operation
If all ports belong to every VLAN for equal access, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universality through a centralized VLAN configuration system that manages port-VLAN mappings globally. The system provides uniform access control policies that can be applied across different VLANs and ports, simplifying administration while enabling differentiated bandwidth allocation through structured configuration rather than ad-hoc settings.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple VLANs share the same physical network ports, then adaptability is improved, but loss of information increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments bandwidth resources by creating distinct port sets for different VLANs. This segmentation allows the system to support multiple VLANs on the same physical network while preventing bandwidth contention and information loss through structured port-VLAN mappings that allocate dedicated paths for each VLAN.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary configuration system that manages the relationship between VLANs and ports. This intermediary layer translates VLAN requirements into specific port assignments, mediating between the need for multi-VLAN support and the requirement for efficient bandwidth allocation, thereby preventing information loss.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system of implementing virtual local area networks (VLANs) with teamed communication ports. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods comprising teaming a plurality of communication ports to form a single virtual communication port (the single virtual port comprising a first set of ports and a second set of ports), sending messages belonging to a first virtual local area network (VLAN) exclusively over the first set of ports from a first device to a second device, and sending messages belonging to a second VLAN exclusively over the second set of ports from the first device to the second device.