VXLAN Circuit Provisioning via Network Fabric Controller
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cloud network technologies face challenges in efficiently provisioning and managing virtual circuits across distributed networks, particularly in dynamically scaling resources and ensuring quality of service, which affects the flexibility and reliability of cloud-computing platforms.
Innovation Solution
A network provisioning system with an administrative interface and virtual circuit constructor that instantiates and configures Virtual Extensible LAN (VXLAN) circuits by converting virtual circuit definitions into Layer-2 provisioning commands, selecting target nodes, and encapsulating these commands within UDP datagrams to establish VXLAN circuits, enabling customers to control provisioning, troubleshooting, and quality of service management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If virtual circuits are provisioned in distributed cloud networks, then resource flexibility and scalability are improved, but network complexity and management difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a network fabric controller as an intermediary device that centralizes the management of VXLAN circuits across distributed network nodes. The controller receives circuit definition messages from administrative interfaces, translates them into standardized provisioning commands, and distributes them to appropriate network nodes. This intermediary approach enables flexible virtual circuit provisioning while shielding users from underlying network complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the virtual circuit provisioning process into distinct functional components: administrative interfaces for user interaction, a controller for coordination, network nodes for execution, and virtual circuit definitions for configuration. This segmentation allows each component to handle specific tasks independently, improving scalability while maintaining manageable complexity through modular architecture.
2Productivity
If VXLAN circuits are established across multiple network nodes, then network scalability is improved, but provisioning time and setup complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-defining virtual circuit parameters and node selections through structured circuit definition messages before actual provisioning begins. The network fabric controller prepares provisioning commands in advance and batches them for efficient distribution to multiple network nodes, reducing the time required for circuit establishment while maintaining scalability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If customers are given control over virtual circuit provisioning, then service customization is improved, but system complexity and configuration difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses administrative interfaces as intermediaries between customers and the complex VXLAN provisioning system. These interfaces translate user-friendly configuration parameters into detailed circuit definition messages that the network fabric controller can process. Customers gain service customization capabilities without directly interacting with complex network configuration parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs template-based circuit definitions that allow customers to copy and reuse standardized virtual circuit configurations. Pre-defined templates contain common circuit parameters and node selections that can be replicated across multiple provisioning scenarios, enabling service customization while reducing configuration complexity through template instantiation rather than manual configuration.
Data Source
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AI summary
A network provisioning device comprises an administrative interface for instantiating a virtual circuit definition to communicatively couple a set of endpoint devices in a network fabric, and a virtual circuit constructor. The virtual circuit constructor converts the virtual circuit definition into Layer-2 provisioning commands, selects a target set of networking nodes that connect to the endpoint devices, and transmits the Layer-2 provisioning commands to the target set of networking nodes. VXLAN virtual circuit provisioning in the target set of networking nodes establishes a VXLAN circuit to communicatively couple the endpoint devices.