摘要:
A method for optimizing entity-specific configuration systems for functional entities of a network element of a software-defined network is presented. The entity-specific configuration systems are based on a network element-specific configuration system related to the whole network element and including configuration entries for determining operations to be carried out by the network element. The method includes forming (401) relation data that indicates, for each of the functional entities, those of the configuration entries which are irrelevant to the functional entity under consideration so that operation of the functional entity is independent of these configuration entries. The relation data enables the entity-specific configuration systems to be constructed (402) so that the entity-specific configuration system of each functional entity is free from those configuration entries which, according to the relation data, are irrelevant to the functional entity under consideration. Therefore, resources for implementing the entity-specific configuration systems can be saved.
摘要:
A method for configuring a network element of a software-defined network “SDN” includes retrieving (401), for different look-up tables, a look-up table specific resource consumption estimate indicating a load factor of at least one component of the network element when running operations related to the look-up table, determining (402), on the basis of the look-up table specific resource consumption estimates, a resource consumption estimate for at least one look-up system including one or more of the look-up tables and having functionality suitable for the network element, and sending (404) to the network element, if the network element is capable (403) of running the look-up system, configuration data defining the look-up system. The method provides a possibility to avoid configuring network elements to overload and, on the other hand, the resource consumption estimates related to different network elements can be used for optimizing the software-defined network as a whole.
摘要:
A network element of a software-defined network includes line interface modules capable of transferring data between each other and providing connections to other network elements. Each line interface module is configurable with configuration data received from a controller of the software-defined network. The line interface modules are configured, in accordance with the configuration data, to support external data-forwarding functionality between the network element and other network elements and to support internal data-forwarding functionality between the line interface modules within the network element. Thus, the controller can manage the line interface modules, as separately controlled devices. The line interface modules are further adapted to support, in accordance with the configuration data, signaling functionality between the line interface modules. The signaling functionality provides internal functionalities of the network element, such as work sharing between the line interface modules, so that also the internal functionalities can be controllable via the controller.
摘要:
The invention relates to allocating and releasing a memory organized to contain memory block groups each of which containing memory blocks. There is a first data entity (101) that indicates the number of free memory blocks in each memory block group. For each memory block group, there is a second data entity (102, 103, . . . , 105) that indicates which of the memory blocks of the concerned memory block group are free. When a request to allocate a memory block is received, a memory block group containing a free memory block is searched on the basis of the first data entity and, from this memory block group, a free memory block is searched on the basis of the second data entity relating to this memory block group. The first data entity and the second data entities constitute a compact data structure, and therefore a cache memory can be effectively utilized.
摘要:
A method for configuring network elements of a software-defined network includes receiving (401) configuration data at one of the network elements, constructing (402) a configuration system of the network element on the basis of the configuration data, addressing (403) by the network element the configuration data or an appropriate portion of it to at least one other of the network elements, and transmitting (404) in accordance with the configuration system at least the appropriate portion of the configuration data to the other network element. The other network element, in turn, constructs its configuration system on the basis of the configuration data received by it and possibly transmits at least a portion of the configuration data to still one or more other network elements. Thus, the network elements represent a single entity from the viewpoint of a controller of the software-defined network. Hence, the scalability of the software-defined network is improved.
摘要:
A method and a device for defining implementation of a look-up table for a network element of a software-defined network “SDN” is presented. The network element includes hardware for implementing the look-up table in two or more mutually alternative ways. The method includes selecting (301) an optimal, or at least a suitable, one of the mutually alternative ways to implement the look-up table on the basis of a) the hardware available for implementing the look-up table, b) information about one or more look-up keys, and c) at least one of the following: the maximum number of entries of the look-up table, an average time between successive look-ups, an average time between successive modifications of the look-up table. The method enables the network element to be configured in a way that the hardware resources of the network element are utilized in an optimal or at least a suitable way.
摘要:
A method for defining a look-up system having functionality suitable for a network element of a software-defined network “SDN” includes maintaining (401) data specifying a set of look-up tables so that the look-up system is capable of being constructed in alternative ways using one or more look-up tables of the set of look-up tables and each of the look-up tables has a look-up table specific resource consumption estimate indicating a load factor of at least one component of the network element when running operations related to the look-up table. The method includes selecting (402), on the basis of the look-up table specific resource consumption estimates, such one of the alternative ways of constructing the look-up system which provides a look-up system that is optimal, or at least suitable, for the network element.