Systems and methods for providing automatic network optimization with application variables

Abstract

Systems and methods for automatic network optimization with application variables are provided. Operation of a protocol stack, such as an SCP stack, relies upon a number of persistent variables, which are remembered over power and reset cycles, used in connection with controlling protocol timing and behavior. These application variables are handled at the network layer of the protocol and may be assigned values by an address space arbitrator, which is an entity responsible for managing the logical network. Each node member of a logical network maintains a set of values for its application variables. This set can be handled by the protocol's network layer, and can be saved in persisted storage. Since the variable values may be modified asynchronously, they are treated as volatile and thus, when a variable is used, its value is obtained through an application interface exposed by a network layer, e.g., through polling. An exception to this procedure is a data link layer, which obtains some operating parameters on every call by the network layer. Optimization of application variables enables reliable operation of a logical network operating under low bandwidth network conditions, etc.