Managing link aggregation traffic in edge nodes

• US 10,243,914 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2015
• Issued: 03/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nicira Incorporated (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Nicira Incorporated (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ravinoothala, Sreeram
• Primary Examiner(s): Roudani, Oussama
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rahman, Shah M
• Application Number:
  US14/800,668
• Publication Number:
  US 20170019369A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,350 Days
• Field of Search: 370392
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2009/45595 Network integration; Enabling network access in virtual machine instances
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/45558 Hypervisor-specific management and integration aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/245 Link aggregation, e.g. trunking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/74 Address processing for routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/125 by balancing the load, e.g. traffic engineering
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/70 Virtual switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/103 across network layers, e.g. resolution of network layer into physical layer addresses or address resolution protocol [ARP]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

Exemplary methods, apparatuses, and systems include a first network edge device configuring a mapping between a physical network interface and a plurality of logical interfaces. A second network edge device also configures a mapping between a physical network interface and a copy of the plurality of logical interfaces. Each of the logical interfaces is assigned a corresponding set of first and second layer networking addresses that is replicated across the first and second network edge devices. The first network edge device receives a first address resolution request via the physical network interface of the first network edge device that includes a source and a destination. The destination is an address assigned to one of the plurality of logical interfaces. The first network edge device determines a second layer networking address assigned to the destination logical interface and transmits an address resolution response including the determined second layer networking address.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

configuring, by a first network edge device, a mapping between a physical network interface of the first network edge device and a plurality of logical interfaces within the first network edge device, wherein a second network edge device also configures a mapping between a physical network interface of the second network edge device and a copy of the plurality of logical interfaces within the second network edge device, wherein at least a first logical interface within the first network edge device and a second logical interface within the second network edge device are each of the logical interfaces is assigned a corresponding set of first and second layer networking addresses that is replicated across the first logical interface within the first network edge device and the second logical interface within the second network edge devices, wherein both the first and second network edge devices can process packets with the replicated first or second layer networking addresses as a destination address can be processed by the first or the second network edge devices, wherein the first and second network edge devices each include one or more logical interfaces that are assigned unique first and second layer networking addresses, and wherein the respective physical network interfaces of the first network edge device and second network edge device are included in a link aggregation group (LAG) with a network switch;

receiving, by the first network edge device via the physical network interface of the first network edge device, a first address resolution request including a source and a destination, the destination being a first layer networking address assigned to one of the plurality of logical interfaces, wherein the first address resolution request was received as a result of the network switch selecting the physical network interface of the first network edge device from among the physical network interfaces in the LAG by applying a load-balancing algorithm;

determining, by the first network edge device from a mapping of first layer networking addresses of the logical interfaces to second layer networking addresses of the logical interfaces, a second layer networking address assigned to the destination logical interface;

transmitting, by the first network edge device via the physical network interface of the first network edge device to the source of the address resolution request, a first address resolution response including the determined second layer networking address assigned to the destination logical interface;

receiving, by the second network edge device via the physical network interface of the second network edge device, a second address resolution request including a source and a destination, the destination being the first layer networking address assigned to one of the plurality of logical interfaces, wherein the second address resolution request was received as a result of the network switch selecting the physical network interface of the second network edge device from among the physical network interfaces in the LAG by applying the load-balancing algorithm;

determining, by the second network edge device from a mapping of first layer networking addresses of the logical interfaces to second layer networking addresses of the logical interfaces, the second layer networking address assigned to the destination logical interface; and

transmitting, by the second network edge device via the physical network interface of the second network edge device to the source of the second address resolution request, a second address resolution response including the determined second layer networking address assigned to the destination logical interface.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the first network edge device via the physical network interface of the first network edge device included within the LAG, an address resolution packet including a source and a destination;

determining, by the first network edge device, that the destination of the address resolution packet is a networking address assigned to a logical interface that is unique to the second network edge device; and

transmitting the address resolution packet from a synchronization network interface of the first network edge device to a synchronization network interface of the second network edge device in response to determining that the destination is a networking address assigned to a logical interface that is unique to second network edge device, the synchronization network interface of the first network edge device being excluded from sharing a common LAG with any ports of the second network edge device and the synchronization network interface of the second network edge device being excluded from sharing a common LAG with any ports of the first network edge device.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein transmitting the address resolution packet includes encapsulating the address resolution packet and transmitting the encapsulated address resolution packet using a tunneling protocol.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first address resolution request is a broadcast, the method further comprising:

receiving, by the first network edge device via a synchronization network interface of the first network edge device, a duplicate of the first address resolution request; and

dropping, by the first network edge device, the duplicate of the first address resolution request.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein each logical interface is a virtual network gateway for a corresponding subnet.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, further comprising:

receiving, by the second network edge device via the physical network interface of the second network edge device, a packet including a destination including first and second layer networking addresses;

determining, by the second network edge device, the first layer networking address of the packet destination is mapped to a device within the subnet corresponding to the destination logical interface and the second layer networking address of the packet destination is mapped to the destination logical interface;

modifying, by the second network edge device, the packet to replace the second layer networking address assigned to the destination logical interface with a second layer networking address assigned to the device within the subnet corresponding to the destination logical interface; and

forwarding the modified packet to the device within the subnet.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions, which when executed by a first network edge device, cause the first network edge device to perform a method comprising:

configuring, by a first network edge device, a mapping between a physical network interface of the first network edge device and a plurality of logical interfaces within the first network edge device, wherein a second network edge device also configures a mapping between a physical network interface of the second network edge device and a copy of the plurality of logical interfaces within the second network edge device, wherein at least a first logical interface within the first network edge device and a second logical interface within the second network edge device are each of the logical interfaces is assigned a corresponding set of first and second layer networking addresses that is replicated across the first logical interface within the first network edge device and the second logical interface within the second network edge devices, wherein both the first and second network edge devices can process packets with the replicated first or second layer networking addresses as a destination address can be processed by the first or the second network edge devices, wherein the first and second network edge devices each include one or more logical interfaces that are assigned unique first and second layer networking addresses, and wherein the respective physical network interfaces of the first network edge device and second network edge device are included in a link aggregation group (LAG) with a network switch;

receiving, by the first network edge device via the physical network interface of the first network edge device, a first address resolution request including a source and a destination, the destination being a first layer networking address assigned to one of the plurality of logical interfaces, wherein the first address resolution request was received as a result of the network switch selecting the physical network interface of the first network edge device from among the physical network interfaces in the LAG by applying a load-balancing algorithm;

determining, by the first network edge device from a mapping of first layer networking addresses of the logical interfaces to second layer networking addresses of the logical interfaces, a second layer networking address assigned to the destination logical interface;

transmitting, by the first network edge device via the physical network interface of the first network edge device to the source of the address resolution request, a first address resolution response including the determined second layer networking address assigned to the destination logical interface;

receiving, by the second network edge device via the physical network interface of the second network edge device, a second address resolution request including a source and a destination, the destination being the first layer networking address assigned to one of the plurality of logical interfaces, wherein the second address resolution request was received as a result of the network switch selecting the physical network interface of the second network edge device from among the physical network interfaces in the LAG by applying the load-balancing algorithm;

determining, by the second network edge device from a mapping of first layer networking addresses of the logical interfaces to second layer networking addresses of the logical interfaces, the second layer networking address assigned to the destination logical interface; and

transmitting, by the second network edge device via the physical network interface of the second network edge device to the source of the second address resolution request, a second address resolution response including the determined second layer networking address assigned to the destination logical interface.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, the method further comprising:

receiving, by the first network edge device via the physical network interface of the first network edge device included within the LAG, an address resolution packet including a source and a destination;

determining, by the first network edge device, that the destination of the address resolution packet is a networking address assigned to a logical interface that is unique to the second network edge device; and

transmitting the address resolution packet from a synchronization network interface of the first network edge device to a synchronization network interface of the second network edge device in response to determining that the destination is a networking address assigned to a logical interface that is unique to second network edge device, the synchronization network interface of the first network edge device being excluded from sharing a common LAG with any ports of the second network edge device and the synchronization network interface of the second network edge device being excluded from sharing a common LAG with any ports of the first network edge device.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein transmitting the address resolution packet includes encapsulating the address resolution packet and transmitting the encapsulated address resolution packet using a tunneling protocol.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the first address resolution request is a broadcast, the method further comprising:

receiving, by the first network edge device via the synchronization network interface of the first network edge device, a duplicate of the first address resolution request; and

dropping, by the first network edge device, the duplicate of the first address resolution request.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein each logical interface is a virtual network gateway for a corresponding subnet.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein:

the second network edge device receives, via the physical network interface of the second network edge device, a packet including a destination including first and second layer networking addresses;

the second network edge device determines the first layer networking address of the packet destination is mapped to a device within the subnet corresponding to the destination logical interface and the second layer networking address of the packet destination is mapped to the destination logical interface;

the second network edge device modifies the packet to replace the second layer networking address assigned to the destination logical interface with a second layer networking address assigned to the device within the subnet corresponding to the destination logical interface; and

the second network edge device forwards the modified packet to the device within the subnet.

13. A first network edge device comprising:

a processing device; and

a memory coupled to the processing device, the memory storing instructions which, when executed by the processing device, cause the first network edge device to;

configure a mapping between a physical network interface of the first network edge device and a plurality of logical interfaces within the first network edge device, wherein a second network edge device also configures a mapping between a physical network interface of the second network edge device and a copy of the plurality of logical interfaces within the second network edge device, wherein at least a first logical interface within the first network edge device and a second logical interface within the second network edge device are each of the logical interfaces is assigned a corresponding set of first and second layer networking addresses that is replicated across the first logical interface within the first network edge device and the second logical interface within the second network edge devices, wherein both the first and second network edge devices can process packets with the replicated first or second layer networking addresses as a destination address can be processed by the first or the second network edge devices, wherein the first and second network edge devices each include one or more logical interfaces that are assigned unique first and second layer networking addresses, and wherein the respective physical network interfaces of the first network edge device and second network edge device are included in a link aggregation group (LAG) with a network switch;

receive, via the physical network interface of the first network edge device, a first address resolution request including a source and a destination, the destination being a first layer networking address assigned to one of the plurality of logical interfaces, wherein the first address resolution request was received as a result of the network switch selecting the physical network interface of the first network edge device from among the physical network interfaces in the LAG by applying a load-balancing algorithm;

determine, from a mapping of first layer networking addresses of the logical interfaces to second layer networking addresses of the logical interfaces, a second layer networking address assigned to the destination logical interface;

transmit, via the physical network interface of the first network edge device to the source of the address resolution request, a first address resolution response including the determined second layer networking address assigned to the destination logical interface;

receive, by the second network edge device via the physical network interface of the second network edge device, a second address resolution request including a source and a destination, the destination being the first layer networking address assigned to one of the plurality of logical interfaces, wherein the second address resolution request was received as a result of the network switch selecting the physical network interface of the second network edge device from among the physical network interfaces in the LAG by applying the load-balancing algorithm;

determine, by the second network edge device from a mapping of first layer networking addresses of the logical interfaces to second layer networking addresses of the logical interfaces, the second layer networking address assigned to the destination logical interface; and

transmit, by the second network edge device via the physical network interface of the second network edge device to the source of the second address resolution request, a second address resolution response including the determined second layer networking address assigned to the destination logical interface.

14. The first network edge device of claim 13, wherein the instructions further cause the first network edge to:

receive, via the physical network interface of the first network edge device included within the LAG, an address resolution packet including a source and a destination;

determine that the destination of the address resolution packet is a networking address assigned to a logical interface that is unique to the second network edge device; and

transmit the address resolution packet from a synchronization network interface of the first network edge device to a synchronization network interface of the second network edge device in response to determining that the destination is a networking address assigned to a logical interface that is unique to second network edge device, the synchronization network interface of the first network edge device being excluded from sharing a common LAG with any ports of the second network edge device and the synchronization network interface of the second network edge device being excluded from sharing a common LAG with any ports of the first network edge device.

15. The first network edge device of claim 14, wherein transmitting the address resolution packet includes encapsulating the address resolution packet and transmitting the encapsulated address resolution packet using a tunneling protocol.

16. The first network edge device of claim 13, wherein the first address resolution request is a broadcast, wherein the instructions further cause the first network edge to:

receive, via the synchronization network interface of the first network edge device, a duplicate of the first address resolution request; and

drop the duplicate of the first address resolution request.

17. The first network edge device of claim 13, wherein each logical interface is a virtual network gateway for a corresponding subnet.