Abstract:
The present disclosure describes several key features of an agent deployable on a service appliance: agent architecture/design, transport and channel abstractions of the agent, new message definition components, channel switching (e.g., platform independent processing), Channel state machine, platform dependent hooks (e.g., memory, timers), Service key data store, and Secure channel infrastructure. Many of these features alleviate the vendor of the service appliance from having to provide the features. The features and standardization thereof enable the system to be more robust (and increases code quality). Speed of integration is decreased while the risk of integration issues is also decreased. Updates to the agent can be deployed in a controlled and efficient manner. Furthermore, the agent can ensure security between a switch and the agent. The agent deployed and running on vendor appliances provides a unique way to present transport channels that run between the switch, agent, and other service appliance components.
Abstract:
A method for setting up standby links on a link failure may be provided. The method comprises for a set of N link ports and M standby link ports, where N and M are integers and N is not equal to M, performing the following functions. Determining the status of a link from a first link port of the N ports. After the link from the first link port has failed, determining when a standby link port from the M standby link ports has been assigned to the first link port of the N ports. After the standby link port has been assigned, determining the health of the standby link port. After the standby link port has been assigned and is healthy, redirecting traffic from the first link port to the standby link port.
Abstract:
A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes transmitting from an appliance connected to a first virtual device context (“VDC”) instantiated on a network device a request for statistics associated with selected ones of a plurality of VDCs implemented on the network device, wherein the plurality of VDCs includes the first VDC and wherein the appliance is connected to the first VDC via a management link; and receiving at the appliance the requested statistics associated with the plurality of VDCs. The method may further comprise receiving at the appliance a configuration message, wherein the configuration message identifies at least one of the selected ones of the plurality of VDCs for which statistics are to be provided, at least one type of statistic to be provided for the selected ones of the VDCs, and a polling interval at which statistics are to be collected from the selected VDCs.
Abstract:
In one embodiment, a method for enabling network appliance monitoring is disclosed. The method includes establishing a remote execution channel for executing commands on a network element such as e.g. a switch. The method also includes using the remote execution channel to initiate execution of one or more commands on the network element. The method further includes receiving at least part of an output resulting from the execution of the one or more commands, wherein the received at least part of the output enables performing the network appliance monitoring.
Abstract:
A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes transmitting from an appliance connected to a first virtual device context (“VDC”) instantiated on a network device a request for statistics associated with selected ones of a plurality of VDCs implemented on the network device, wherein the plurality of VDCs includes the first VDC and wherein the appliance is connected to the first VDC via a management link; and receiving at the appliance the requested statistics associated with the plurality of VDCs. The method may further comprise receiving at the appliance a configuration message, wherein the configuration message identifies at least one of the selected ones of the plurality of VDCs for which statistics are to be provided, at least one type of statistic to be provided for the selected ones of the VDCs, and a polling interval at which statistics are to be collected from the selected VDCs.
Abstract:
In one embodiment, a method for enabling network appliance monitoring is disclosed. The method includes establishing a remote execution channel for executing commands on a network element such as e.g. a switch. The method also includes using the remote execution channel to initiate execution of one or more commands on the network element. The method further includes receiving at least part of an output resulting from the execution of the one or more commands, wherein the received at least part of the output enables performing the network appliance monitoring.
Abstract:
In an example, there is disclosed a network switch or other computing apparatus comprising: an ingress interface; a plurality of egress interfaces; and one or more logic elements, including at least a content addressable memory (CAM), comprising a channel selection engine to provide persistent channel selection comprising: receive a packet on the ingress interface; inspect a layer 2 (L2) attribute of the packet; lookup the L2 attribute in the CAM; and assign the packet to an egress interface communicatively coupled to a network service.
Abstract:
In an example, there is disclosed a network apparatus for providing native load balancing within a switch, including: a first network interface operable to communicatively couple to a first network; a plurality of second network interfaces operable to communicatively couple to a second network; one or more logic elements comprising a switching engine operable for providing network switching; a content-addressable memory (CAM); and one or more logic elements providing a load balancing engine operable for: receiving incoming network traffic via the first network; selecting the incoming network traffic based at least in part on a selection factor, and load balancing selected traffic to a first egress interface based at least in part on a load balancing factor other than an IP address.
Abstract:
In an example, there is disclosed a computing apparatus for providing load-balanced switching, including a switching network; one or more logic elements operable for providing network switching or routing; and one or more logic elements providing a load balancing engine operable for: load balancing at least some incoming network traffic; receiving an exclude list identifying a network node excluded from load balancing; identifying a network packet directed to the network node excluded from load balancing; and directing the network packet to the network.
Abstract:
In an example, there is disclosed a network switch or other computing apparatus comprising: an ingress interface; a plurality of egress interfaces; and one or more logic elements, including at least a content addressable memory (CAM), comprising a channel selection engine to provide persistent channel selection comprising: receive a packet on the ingress interface; inspect a layer 2 (L2) attribute of the packet; lookup the L2 attribute in the CAM; and assign the packet to an egress interface communicatively coupled to a network service.