Network field unit for a cloud-based services exchange

• US 10,291,726 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2016
• Issued: 05/14/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Equinix Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Equinix Incorporated
• Inventors: Rao, Ravindra J N
• Primary Examiner(s): Won, Michael
• Application Number:
  US15/001,875
• Publication Number:
  US 20160337179A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,210 Days
• Field of Search: 709201, 709220, 709221, 709230, 709223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4633 Interconnection of networks using encapsulation techniques, e.g. tunneling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4641 Virtual LANs, VLANs, e.g. virtual private networks [VPN] LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone H04L12/462; encapsulation techniques H04L12/4633; routing of packets H04L45/00; packet switches H04L49/00; virtual private networks for security H04L63/0272
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0813 characterised by the conditions triggering a change of settings
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/20 Network management software packages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/40 using virtualisation of network functions or resources, e.g. SDN or NFV entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5025 by proactively reacting to service quality change, e.g. by reconfiguration after service quality degradation or upgrade
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5051 Service on demand, e.g. definition and deployment of services in real time
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5096 wherein the managed service relates to distributed or central networked applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/586 of virtual routers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/64 using an overlay routing layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/10 characterised by the switching fabric construction
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/25 Routing or path finding in a switch fabric
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/142 Managing session states for stateless protocols; Signalling session states; State transitions; Keeping-state mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/566 : Grouping or aggregating service requests, e.g. for unified processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 : Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 : Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols

Abstract

In some examples, a method includes receiving, by at least one network field unit, a service definition that specifies one or more service requirements to implement a service within a portion of an edge network of one or more network data centers, wherein the service definition is usable by the at least one network field unit to configure the portion of the edge network to provide the service, wherein the portion of the edge network within one or more network data centers connect through one or more switching fabrics of the one or more network data centers; determining, by the network field unit and based on the service definition, one or more particular, physical devices of the edge network that are usable to provide the service; and configuring, by the network field unit, the one or more particular, physical devices of the edge network to provide the service.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a plurality of geographically dispersed network field units that control respective portions of an edge network of a plurality of geographically dispersed data centers, corresponding network service definitions from a centralized network controller (CNC) system, wherein the corresponding network service definitions each specifies different end-to-end network service requirements to implement a different end-to-end network service within a different one of the portions of the edge network, wherein the respective portions of the edge network within the plurality of geographically dispersed network data centers connect through one or more cloud-based service exchange points of the plurality of geographically dispersed network data centers, wherein the one or more cloud-based services exchange points are coupled to respective cloud service provider networks within the respective portions of the edge network;

determining, by each network field unit of the plurality of geographically dispersed network field units and based on the corresponding network service definition received by the network field unit, one or more particular, physical devices of the portion of the edge network controlled by the network field unit that are usable to provide the end-to-end network service specified by the corresponding network service definition;

configuring, by each network field unit of the plurality of geographically dispersed network field units, the one or more particular, physical devices of the portion of the edge network controlled by the network field unit to provide the end-to-end network service specified by the corresponding network service definition;

receiving, by each network field unit of the plurality of geographically dispersed network field units and from the CNC system, corresponding requests for service assurance of the network service specified by the corresponding network service definition; and

providing, by each network field unit of the plurality of geographically dispersed network field units, the service assurance of the end-to-end network service specified by the corresponding network service definition received by the network field unit by (1) obtaining service telemetry and analytics data for the end-to-end network service specified by the corresponding network service definition received by the network field unit and from the corresponding cloud-based services exchange point, (2) analyzing the service telemetry and analytics data to identify at least one anomaly for the end-to-end network service specified by the corresponding network service definition received by the network field unit, and (3) in response to identifying the at least one anomaly, executing a remedial action to ensure the end-to-end network service specified by the corresponding network service definition adheres to a service level agreement associated with the end-to-end network service specified by the corresponding network service definition received by the network field unit.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein configuring the one or more particular, physical devices of the portion of the edge network controlled by the network field unit further comprises:

sending, by each network field unit of the plurality of geographically dispersed network field units, and to at least one of a Software-Defined Network (SDN) controller or a hardware configurator, one or more instructions that are usable by the least one of the SDN controller or the hardware configurator to configure the one or more particular, physical devices of the portion of the edge network controlled by the network field unit to provide the end-to-end network service specified by the corresponding network service definition.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring, by each network field unit of the plurality of geographically dispersed network field units, performance data for the end-to-end network service specified by the corresponding network service definition that is received from at least one of an SDN controller, a hardware configurator, or an infrastructure data collector;

comparing, by each network field unit of the plurality of geographically dispersed network field units, the performance data with at least one of performance conditions or network telemetry and analytics data stored by the CNC system to determine whether the service requirements for the end-to-end network service specified by the corresponding network service definition are satisfied by performance of the portion of the edge network;

responsive to determining that the service requirements for the end-to-end network service specified by the corresponding network service definition are not satisfied, determining, by each network field unit of the plurality of geographically dispersed network field units, at least one remedial action to satisfy the service requirements for the end-to-end network service specified by the corresponding network service definition; and

executing, by each network field unit of the plurality of geographically dispersed network field units, the at least one remedial action.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein executing the at least one remedial action comprises reconfiguring at least the portion of the edge network or a different portion of the edge network.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

responsive to determining that the service requirements for the end-to-end network service specified by the corresponding network service definition are not satisfied, sending, by each network field unit of the plurality of geographically dispersed network field units, information that indicates that the service requirements for the end-to-end network service specified by the corresponding network service definition are not satisfied to the CNC system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein configuring one or more particular, physical devices of the portion of the edge network controlled by a network field unit of the plurality of network field units to provide the end-to-end network service specified by the corresponding network service definition further comprises:

configuring a plurality of provider edge routers included in the portion of the edge network controlled by the network field unit to define one or more virtual private network routing and forwarding instances (VRFs) for the end-to-end network service specified by the corresponding network service definition.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining service telemetry and analytics data for the end-to-end network service specified by the corresponding network service definition comprises obtaining at least one of actual bandwidth, dropped packets, latency, and uptime of the physical devices of the portion of edge network controlled by the network field unit.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein executing the remedial action comprises executing one or more operations performed by the CNC system.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the remedial actions comprise at least one of re-allocating one or more resources to continue providing the end-to-end network service specified by the corresponding network service definition and sending one or more notifications to one or more recipients.

10. A plurality of network field units configured to control respective portions of an edge network of a plurality of geographically dispersed data centers, each of the plurality of network field units comprising:

one or more computer processors; and

a memory comprising instructions that when executed by the one or more computer processors cause the one or more computer processors to;

receive a corresponding network service definition, of corresponding network service definitions for the plurality of network field units, from a centralized network controller (CNC) system, wherein the corresponding network service definitions each specifies different end-to-end network service requirements to implement a different end-to-end network service within a different one of the portions of the edge network, wherein the respective portions of the edge network within the plurality of geographically dispersed network data centers connect through one or more cloud-based service exchange points of the plurality of geographically dispersed network data centers, wherein the one or more cloud-based service exchange points are coupled to respective cloud service provider networks within the respective portions of the edge network;

determine, based on the corresponding network service definition received by the network field unit, one or more particular, physical devices of the portion of the edge network controlled by the network field unit that are usable to provide the end-to-end network service specified by the corresponding network service definition; and

configure the one or more particular, physical devices of the portion of the edge network controlled by the network field unit to provide the end-to-end network service specified by the corresponding network service definition;

receive, from the CNC system, a corresponding request for service assurance of the end-to-end network service specified by the corresponding network service definition; and

provide the service assurance of the end-to-end network service specified by the corresponding network service definition received by the network field unit by (1) obtaining service telemetry and analytics data for the end-to-end network service specified by the corresponding network service definition received by the network field unit and from the corresponding cloud-based services exchange point, (2) analyzing the service telemetry and analytics data to identify at least one anomaly for the end-to-end network service specified by the corresponding network service definition received by the network field unit, and (3) in response to identifying the at least one anomaly, executing a remedial action to ensure the end-to-end network service specified by the corresponding network service definition adheres to a service level agreement associated with the end-to-end network service specified by the corresponding network service definition received by the network field unit.

11. The network field unit of claim 10, wherein the memory comprises instructions that when executed by the one or more computer processors cause the one or more computer processors to:

send, to at least one of a Software-Defined Network (SDN) controller or a hardware configurator, one or more instructions that are usable by the least one of the SDN controller or the hardware configurator to configure the one or more particular, physical devices of the portion of the edge network controlled by the network field unit to provide the end-to-end network service specified by the corresponding network service definition.

12. The network field unit of claim 10, wherein the memory comprises instructions that when executed by the one or more computer processors cause the one or more computer processors to:

monitor performance data for the end-to-end network service specified by the corresponding network service definition that is received from at least one of an SDN controller, a hardware configurator, or an infrastructure data collector;

compare the performance data with at least one of performance conditions or network telemetry and analytics data stored by the CNC system to determine whether the service requirements for the end-to-end network service specified by the corresponding network service definition are satisfied by performance of the portion of the edge network;

responsive to determining that the service requirements for the end-to-end network service specified by the corresponding network service definition are not satisfied, determine at least one remedial action to satisfy the service requirements for the end-to-end network service specified by the corresponding network service definition; and

execute the at least one remedial action.

13. The network field unit of claim 12, wherein executing the at least one remedial action comprises reconfiguring at least the portion of the edge network or a different portion of the edge network.

14. The network field unit of claim 12, wherein the memory comprises instructions that when executed by the one or more computer processors cause the one or more computer processors to:

responsive to determining that the service requirements for the end-to-end network service specified by the corresponding network service definition are not satisfied, send information that indicates that the service requirements for the end-to-end network service are not satisfied to a CNC system.

15. The network field unit of claim 10, wherein the memory comprises instructions that when executed by the one or more computer processors cause the one or more computer processors to:

configure a plurality of provider edge routers included in the portion of the edge network controlled by the network field unit to define one or more virtual private network routing and forwarding instances (VRFs) for the end-to-end network service specified by the corresponding network service definition.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause at least one programmable processor of a network field unit, of a plurality of network field units configured to control respective portions of an edge network of a plurality of geographically dispersed data centers, to perform operations comprising:

receiving a corresponding network service definition, of corresponding network service definitions for the plurality of network field units, from a centralized network controller (CNC) system, wherein the corresponding network service definitions each specifies different end-to-end network service requirements to implement a different end-to-end network service within a different one of the portions of the edge network, wherein the respective portions of the edge network within the plurality of geographically dispersed network data centers connect through one or more cloud-based service exchange points of the plurality of geographically dispersed network data centers, wherein the one or more cloud-based services exchange points are coupled to respective cloud service provider networks within the respective portions of the edge network;

determining, based on the corresponding network service definition received by the network field unit, one or more particular, physical devices of the portion of the edge network controlled by the network field unit that are usable to provide the end-to-end network service specified by the corresponding network service definition; and

configuring the one or more particular, physical devices of the portion of the edge network controlled by the network field unit to provide the end-to-end network service specified by the corresponding network service definition;

receiving, from the CNC system, a corresponding request for service assurance of the end-to-end network service specified by the corresponding network service definition; and

providing the service assurance of the end-to-end network service specified by the corresponding network service definition received by the network field unit by (1) obtaining service telemetry and analytics data for the end-to-end network service specified by the corresponding network service definition received by the network field unit and from the corresponding cloud-based services exchange point, (2) analyzing the service telemetry and analytics data to identify at least one anomaly for the end-to-end network service specified by the corresponding network service definition received by the network field unit, and (3) in response to identifying the at least one anomaly, executing a remedial action to ensure the end-to-end network service specified by the corresponding network service definition adheres to a service level agreement associated with the end-to-end network service specified by the corresponding network service definition received by the network field unit.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the at least one programmable processor of the network field unit to perform operations comprising:

sending to at least one of a Software-Defined Network (SDN) controller or a hardware configurator, one or more instructions that are usable by the least one of the SDN controller or the hardware configurator to configure the one or more particular, physical devices of the portion of the edge network controlled by the network field unit to provide the end-to-end network service.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the at least one programmable processor of the network field unit to perform operations comprising:

monitoring performance data for the end-to-end network service specified by the corresponding network service definition that is received from at least one of an SDN controller, a hardware configurator, or an infrastructure data collector;

comparing the performance data with at least one of performance conditions or network telemetry and analytics data stored by the CNC system to determine whether the service requirements for the end-to-end network service specified by the corresponding network service definition are satisfied by performance of the portion of the edge network;

responsive to determining that the service requirements for the network service specified by the corresponding network service definition are not satisfied, determining at least one remedial action to satisfy the service requirements for the end-to-end network service specified by the corresponding network service definition; and

executing the at least one remedial action.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein executing the at least one remedial action comprises reconfiguring at least the portion of the edge network or a different portion of the edge network.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18 comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the at least one programmable processor of the network field unit to perform operations comprising:

responsive to determining that the service requirements for the end-to-end network service specified by the corresponding network service definition are not satisfied, sending information that indicates that the service requirements for the end-to-end network service are not satisfied to a CNC system.