IP Library Granted Patent US 10,567,252
Granted Patent B1
US 10,567,252 · App. 15/392,704 · Granted Feb 18, 2020

Network connection service high availability evaluation for co-location facilities

Inventors: Utpal Mukhopadhyaya (San Jose, CA); Sindhu Payankulath (Saratoga, CA); Syed Nawaz (Santa Clara, CA); Syed Mohammad Farooq (Milpitas, CA)
Assignee: Equinix, Inc.
H04L43/0805H04L61/2007H04L67/1002
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,567,252
App. No.
15/392,704
Granted
Feb 18, 2020
Kind
B1
Abstract

Techniques are disclosed for evaluating and facilitating high availability for network connection services provided by network infrastructure of one or more co-location facilities. For example, a computing system receives data from each network device in one or more co-location facilities, the data indicating the respective capability of each network feature of each network device to provide highly available operation across a plurality of communication model layers for supporting a network connection service to customer networks co-located within the one or more co-location facilities. The computing system applies high availability evaluation metrics to the data to determine a high availability capability score for each network device feature of each network device. Further, the computing system determines, based on the high availability capability scores, an indication of the high availability for the network connection service. The computing system outputs, for display, the indication of the high availability of the network connection service.

Claims (74)

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a computing system, data from each network device of a plurality of network devices in one or more co-location facilities, the data from each network device indicating respective high availability capabilities of a plurality of network device features of the network device, wherein the high availability capabilities indicate an ability of the plurality of network device features to enable the network device to provide redundant and resilient operation at a plurality of communication model layers for supporting one or more network connection services to one or more customer networks co-located within the one or more co-location facilities despite failure of one or more of the plurality of network device features;

applying, by the computing system, high availability evaluation metrics to the data from each network device to determine, for each network device feature of the plurality of network device features of the network device, a high availability capability score for the network device feature;

determining, by the computing system based on the high availability capability scores for each network device feature of the plurality of network device features of each of the plurality of network devices, an indication of a high availability score for each of the one or more network connection services; and

outputting, by the computing system for display, the indication of the high availability score for the one or more network connection services.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of communication model layers is one of a plurality of International Standards Organization (ISO) Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model layers and a plurality of Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) model layers.

3. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the one or more co-location facilities comprises a plurality of co-location facilities,

wherein determining, based on the high availability capability scores for each network device feature of the plurality of network device features of each of the plurality of network devices, the indication of the high availability score for the one or more network connection services comprises determining, based on the high availability capability scores for each network device feature of the plurality of network device features of each of the plurality of network devices and separately for each co-location facility of the plurality of co-location facilities, a plurality of indications of the high availability score for the one or more network connection services, wherein each indication of the plurality of indications corresponds to each co-location facility of the plurality of co-location facilities,

wherein outputting, for display, the indication of the high availability score for the one or more network connection services comprises outputting, for display and separately for each co-location facility of the plurality of co-location facilities, the plurality of indications of the high availability score for the one or more network connection services.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein outputting, for display and separately for each co-location facility of the plurality of co-location facilities, the plurality of indications of the high availability score for the one or more network connection services comprises:

outputting, for display, an interface that includes a grid representation comprising a plurality of rows and columns, wherein each column of the plurality of columns depicts indications of the high availability score for the one or more network connection services of one co-location facility of the plurality of co-location facilities, and each row depicts indications of the high availability score for one network connection service of the one or more network connection services for one or more of the plurality of co-location facilities.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of network device features provides protocol resiliency at OSI model layer 2 and layer 3,

wherein applying the high availability evaluation metrics to the data from each network device to determine, for each network device feature of the plurality of network device features of the network device, the high availability capability score for the network device feature comprises applying the high availability evaluation metrics to the data from each network device to determine, for each network device feature of the plurality of network device features of the network device, a score for network protocol resiliency at OSI model layer 2 and layer 3 for the network device feature, and

wherein determining, based on the high availability capability scores for each network device feature of the plurality of network device features of each of the plurality of network devices, the indication of the high availability score for the one or more network connection services comprises determining, based on the score for network protocol resiliency at OSI model layer 2 and layer 3 for each network device feature of the plurality of network device features of each of the plurality of network devices, an indication of a high availability score for the one or more network connection services.

6. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the plurality of network devices are arranged in a first network topology, and the plurality of network device features provide network topology resiliency at OSI model layer 2 and layer 3,

wherein applying the high availability evaluation metrics to the data from each network device to determine, for each network device feature of the plurality of network device features of the network device, the high availability capability score for the network device feature comprises applying the high availability evaluation metrics to the data from each network device to determine, for each network device feature of the plurality of network device features of the network device, a score for network topology resiliency at OSI model layer 2 and layer 3 for the network device feature, and

wherein determining, based on the high availability capability scores for each network device feature of the plurality of network device features of each of the plurality of network devices, the indication of the high availability score for the one or more network connection services comprises determining, based on the score for network topology resiliency at OSI model layer 2 and layer 3 for each network device feature of the plurality of network device features of each of the plurality of network devices, an indication of a high availability score for the one or more network connection services.

7. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein high availability evaluation metrics comprise a unique high availability evaluation metric for each network device feature of the plurality of network device features, and

wherein determining, based on the high availability capability scores for each network device feature of the plurality of network device features of each of the plurality of network devices, the indication of the high availability score for the one or more network connection services comprises determining, by summing the high availability capability scores for each network device feature of the plurality of network device features of each of the plurality of network devices, the indication of the high availability score for the one or more network connection services.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining, based on the high availability capability scores for each network device feature of the plurality of network device features of each of the plurality of network devices, the indication of the high availability score for the one or more network connection services comprises:

applying a threshold to each of the high availability capability scores for each network device feature of the plurality of network device features of each of the plurality of network devices of the one or more co-location facilities supporting the one or more network connection services;

upon determining that each of the high availability capability scores for each network device feature of the plurality of network device features exceeds the threshold, outputting a positive indication of the high availability score for the corresponding the one or more network connection services; and

upon determining that each of the high availability capability scores for each network device feature of the plurality of network device features does not exceed the threshold, outputting a negative indication of the high availability score for the corresponding the one or more network connection services,

wherein outputting, for display, the indication of the high availability score for the one or more network connection services comprises outputting, for display on a dashboard, the indication of the high availability score for the one or more network connection services.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

transmitting, by the computing system, instructions to each network device of the plurality of network devices in the one or more co-location facilities, wherein the instructions are configured to cause the network device to execute an automation script, wherein the automation script is configured to cause the network device to:

compile the data indicating respective high availability capabilities of a plurality of network device features of the network device; and

transmit the data indicating respective high availability capabilities of a plurality of network device features of the network device to the computing system.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising detecting, by the computing system, a change in a network topology of the one or more co-location facilities; and

wherein transmitting the instructions to each network device of the plurality of network devices in the one or more co-location facilities comprises transmitting, in response to detecting the change in the network topology of the one or more co-location facilities, instructions to each network device of the plurality of network devices in the one or more co-location facilities.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the high availability evaluation metrics to the data from each network device to determine, for each network device feature of the plurality of network device features of the network device, the high availability capability score for the network device feature comprises:

applying high availability evaluation metrics to the data from each network device to determine, for each network device feature of the plurality of network device features of the network device, an unweighted high availability capability score for the network device feature; and

applying a numerical weight to the unweighted high availability capability score for the network device feature to determine, for each network device feature of the plurality of network device features of the network device, the high availability capability score for the network device feature.

12. A computing system configured to:

receive data from each network device of a plurality of network devices in one or more co-location facilities, the data from each network device indicating respective high availability capabilities of a plurality of network device features of the network device, wherein the high availability capabilities indicate an ability of the plurality of network device features to enable the network device to provide redundant and resilient operation at a plurality of communication model layers for supporting one or more network connection services to one or more customer networks co-located within the one or more co-location facilities despite failure of one or more of the plurality of network device features;

apply high availability evaluation metrics to the data from each network device to determine, for each network device feature of the plurality of network device features of the network device, a high availability capability score for the network device feature;

determine, based on the high availability capability scores for each network device feature of the plurality of network device features of each of the plurality of network devices, an indication of a high availability score for each of the one or more network connection services; and

output, for display, the indication of the high availability score for the one or more network connection services.

13. The computing system of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of communication model layers is one of a plurality of International Standards Organization (ISO) Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model layers and a plurality of Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) model layers.

14. The computing system of claim 12 ,

wherein the one or more co-location facilities comprises a plurality of co-location facilities,

wherein the computing system configured to determine, based on the high availability capability scores for each network device feature of the plurality of network device features of each of the plurality of network devices, the indication of the high availability score for the one or more network connection services is further configured to determine, based on the high availability capability scores for each network device feature of the plurality of network device features of each of the plurality of network devices and separately for each co-location facility of the plurality of co-location facilities, a plurality of indications of the high availability score for the one or more network connection services, wherein each indication of the plurality of indications corresponds to each co-location facility of the plurality of co-location facilities, and

wherein the computing system configured to output, for display, the indication of the high availability score for the one or more network connection services is further configured to output, for display and separately for each co-location facility of the plurality of co-location facilities, the plurality of indications of the high availability score for the one or more network connection services.

15. The computing system of claim 14 , wherein the computing system configured to output, for display and separately for each co-location facility of the plurality of co-location facilities, the plurality of indications of the high availability score for the one or more network connection services is further configured to:

arrange the plurality of indications of the high availability score for the one or more network connection services in a grid representation comprising a plurality of rows and columns, wherein each column of the plurality of columns depicts one co-location facility of the plurality of co-location facilities, and each row depicts one network connection service of the one or more network connection services; and

output, for display, the grid representation of the plurality of indications of the high availability score for the one or more network connection services.

16. The computing system of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of network device features provides protocol resiliency at OSI model layer 2 and layer 3,

wherein the computing system configured to apply the high availability evaluation metrics to the data from each network device to determine, for each network device feature of the plurality of network device features of the network device, the high availability capability score for the network device feature is further configured to apply the high availability evaluation metrics to the data from each network device to determine, for each network device feature of the plurality of network device features of the network device, a score for network protocol resiliency at OSI model layer 2 and layer 3 for the network device feature, and

wherein the computing system configured to determine, based on the high availability capability scores for each network device feature of the plurality of network device features of each of the plurality of network devices, the indication of the high availability score for the one or more network connection services is further configured to determine, based on the score for network protocol resiliency at OSI model layer 2 and layer 3 for each network device feature of the plurality of network device features of each of the plurality of network devices, an indication of a high availability score for the one or more network connection services.

17. The computing system of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of network devices are arranged in a first network topology, and the plurality of network device features provide network topology resiliency at OSI model layer 2 and layer 3,

wherein the computing system configured to apply the high availability evaluation metrics to the data from each network device to determine, for each network device feature of the plurality of network device features of the network device, the high availability capability score for the network device feature is further configured to apply the high availability evaluation metrics to the data from each network device to determine, for each network device feature of the plurality of network device features of the network device, a score for network topology resiliency at OSI model layer 2 and layer 3 for the network device feature, and

wherein the computing system configured to determine, based on the high availability capability scores for each network device feature of the plurality of network device features of each of the plurality of network devices, the indication of the high availability score for the one or more network connection services is further configured to determine, based on the score for network topology resiliency at OSI model layer 2 and layer 3 for each network device feature of the plurality of network device features of each of the plurality of network devices, an indication of a high availability score for the one or more network connection services.

18. The computing system of claim 12 , wherein high availability evaluation metrics comprise a unique high availability evaluation metric for each network device feature of the plurality of network device features, and

wherein the computing system configured to determine, based on the high availability capability scores for each network device feature of the plurality of network device features of each of the plurality of network devices, the indication of the high availability score for the one or more network connection services is further configured to determine, by summing the high availability capability scores for each network device feature of the plurality of network device features of each of the plurality of network devices, the indication of the high availability score for the one or more network connection services.

19. The computing system of claim 12 , wherein the computing system configured to determine, based on the high availability capability scores for each network device feature of the plurality of network device features of each of the plurality of network devices, the indication of the high availability score for the one or more network connection services is further configured to:

apply a threshold to each of the high availability capability scores for each network device feature of the plurality of network device features of each of the plurality of network devices of the one or more co-location facilities supporting the one or more network connection services;

upon determining that each of the high availability capability scores for each network device feature of the plurality of network device features exceeds the threshold, output a positive indication of the high availability score for the corresponding the one or more network connection services; and

upon determining that each of the high availability capability scores for each network device feature of the plurality of network device features does not exceed the threshold, output a negative indication of the high availability score for the corresponding the one or more network connection services; and

wherein the computing system configured to output, for display, the indication of the high availability score for the one or more network connection services is further configured to output, for display on a dashboard, the indication of the high availability score for the one or more network connection services.

20. The computing system of claim 12 , wherein the computing system is further configured to:

transmit instructions to each network device of the plurality of network devices in the one or more co-location facilities, wherein the instructions are configured to cause the network device to execute an automation script, wherein the automation script is configured to cause the network device to:

compile the data indicating respective high availability capabilities of a plurality of network device features of the network device; and

transmit the data indicating respective high availability capabilities of a plurality of network device features of the network device to the computing system.

21. The computing system of claim 12 , wherein the computing system is further configured to apply the high availability evaluation metrics to the data from each network device to determine, for each network device feature of the plurality of network device features of the network device, the high availability capability score for the network device feature is further configured to:

apply high availability evaluation metrics to the data from each network device to determine, for each network device feature of the plurality of network device features of the network device, an unweighted high availability capability score for the network device feature; and

apply a numerical weight to the unweighted high availability capability score for the network device feature to determine, for each network device feature of the plurality of network device features of the network device, the high availability capability score for the network device feature.

22. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors of a computing system to:

receive data from each network device of a plurality of network devices in one or more co-location facilities, the data from each network device indicating respective high availability capabilities of a plurality of network device features of the network device, wherein the high availability capabilities indicate an ability of the plurality of network device features to enable the network device to provide redundant and resilient operation at a plurality of communication model layers for supporting one or more network connection services to one or more customer networks co-located within the one or more co-location facilities despite failure of one or more of the plurality of network device features;

apply high availability evaluation metrics to the data from each network device to determine, for each network device feature of the plurality of network device features of the network device, a high availability capability score for the network device feature;

determine, based on the high availability capability scores for each network device feature of the plurality of network device features of each of the plurality of network devices, an indication of a high availability score for the one or more network connection services; and

output, for display, the indication of the high availability score for the one or more network connection services.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 28, 2016
From: MUKHOPADHYAYA, UTPAL; PAYANKULATH, SINDHU; NAWAZ, SYED; FAROOQ, SYED MOHAMMAD
To: EQUINIX, INC.
Reel/Frame 040788/0090 →
Cited By (5)
US 12,348,358 US 12,363,395 US 12,470,469 US 12,641,452 US 12,706,838