Virtual Machine Packet Assignment Without Address Translation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional network systems that distribute packet processing load among servers using network address translation consume excessive processing bandwidth and require modification of destination network addresses, which is undesirable.

Innovation Solution

A system that assigns virtual machines to process packets based on predetermined destination addresses and port numbers, using a hashing mechanism to balance packet processing load without modifying the destination network addresses, thereby reducing processing bandwidth consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If network address translation technique is used to distribute packet processing load among servers, then load distribution is achieved, but processing bandwidth is consumed excessively

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepacket processing load distributionVSAvoidprocessing bandwidth consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the load distribution function from the front-end switch and implements it at the destination server using a connection table. This removes the need for address modification at the front end, eliminating the associated bandwidth consumption while maintaining load distribution capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a connection table as an intermediary data structure that maps connection identifiers to destination server identifiers. This mediator enables load distribution without requiring network address translation, thus avoiding the bandwidth overhead of modifying packet addresses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If network address translation is performed by front end switch, then packets are routed to appropriate servers, but destination network addresses must be modified consuming bandwidth

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepacket routing capabilityVSAvoidaddress modification operations

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of modifying destination addresses at the front-end switch to route packets, the patent inverts the approach by using the original destination address to generate a connection identifier that maps to the actual destination server via a connection table at the destination. This eliminates address modification operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a connection table that copies and stores the mapping relationships between connection identifiers and destination servers. This copy enables routing decisions to be made without modifying the actual packet addresses, simplifying the forwarding process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS8924960B2Assignment, at least in part, of at least one virtual machine to at least one packet

Publication Date: 2014.12.30 INTEL CORP

AI summary

In an embodiment, an apparatus is provided that may include circuitry to be comprised in a platform. The circuitry may be to determine, at least in part, at least one virtual machine (VM) resident in the platform to be assigned to process, at least in part, at least one packet. The circuitry may determine, at least in part, the at least one VM based at least in part upon (1) comparison, at least in part, of at least one destination of the at least one packet to at least one predetermined destination, and (2) at least one value based at least in part upon both at least one port associated with the at least one packet and at least one source of the at least one packet. Of course, many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment.