VM Data Switching via Virtual NIC Bypass
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current data switching solutions for virtual machines, particularly physical switching, face inefficiencies as they require all communication to pass through a Network Interface Card (NIC), consuming PCI bus bandwidth and affecting communication between virtual machines and external devices.
Innovation Solution
A method that determines whether a destination node is within the physical host or outside by using MAC address mapping tables to route data through either virtual or physical NIC ports, optimizing data switching by avoiding unnecessary NIC usage and maintaining performance and flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If physical switching is used to enable direct NIC usage by virtual machines, then performance and flexibility are improved, but data switching efficiency deteriorates due to all communication passing through the NIC consuming PCI bus bandwidth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments data switching paths into two distinct routes: one for internal virtual machine communication (bypassing the NIC) and another for external communication (using the NIC). This segmentation allows internal traffic to be switched directly between virtual machines through the virtualization layer without consuming PCI bus bandwidth, while external traffic still utilizes the NIC for proper network routing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a virtual switching layer as an intermediary between virtual machines and the physical NIC. This virtual switch intelligently determines whether traffic is destined for another virtual machine or external network, routing internal traffic directly without NIC involvement and external traffic through the NIC, thereby eliminating unnecessary PCI bus bandwidth consumption for internal communication.
2Power
If physical switching is used to eliminate host consumption by network usage, then performance is improved, but communication between virtual machines inside the host is affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments communication paths to distinguish between internal virtual machine traffic and external network traffic. Internal traffic is routed directly between virtual machines through the virtualization layer without passing through the physical NIC, eliminating unnecessary host consumption and improving performance, while external traffic still uses the NIC appropriately.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different switching qualities to different traffic types: internal virtual machine communication receives optimized direct switching through the virtualization layer for high performance, while external communication uses standard NIC-based switching. This local quality differentiation ensures each traffic type gets the appropriate handling for its specific requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for switching data between virtual machines is provided, the method includes acquiring data that is inside a physical host and needs to be sent to a destination node; determining, according to the data, whether the destination node is a node inside the physical host or a node outside the physical host; and when the destination node is a node inside the physical host, determining a destination virtual network interface card (NIC) port, and sending the data to a corresponding destination virtual machine using a virtual NIC corresponding to the destination virtual NIC port; or when the destination node is a node outside the physical host, determining a physical NIC port, and sending the data outside the physical host using a physical NIC corresponding to the physical NIC port. A corresponding apparatus and system are also provided.