Abstract:
A technique enables learning and switching of frames between line cards that are interconnected by a switch fabric of a distributed network switch. The network switch comprises a router and a plurality of forwarding engines, each having an associated forwarding table. The distributed learning and switching technique configures (i) the router to issue an extra copy of a routed frame to an ingress card having a port attached to the source of the frame; (ii) the router to ensure that the contents of a source index field of the routed frame header indicate that the frame originated from the ingress card; (iii) the router to assert a shortcut bit in the header of the routed frame; (iv) a forwarding engine on an egress card having a port attached to the destination of the frame to generate and issue a media access control notification frame to the ingress card and (v) a forwarding engine on the ingress card to mark an established entry in a layer 2 (L2) portion of its forwarding table as ineligible for normal L2 aging policies.
Abstract:
Methods and apparatus for providing a device for forwarding packets in a network are disclosed. A first router and a second router having a shared set of interfaces are provided, enabling the first router and the second router to share forwarding data for forwarding packets on the shared set of interfaces.
Abstract:
In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a port profile manager for receiving a port configuration policy and creating a port profile for the port configuration policy. The apparatus further includes a management interface for transmitting the port profile to a management station operable to receive input mapping the port profile to one or more interfaces associated with virtual machines. The port profile manager receives and stores the mapping input at the management station, for use in configuring the interfaces according to the port configuration policy. A method for policy based configuration of interfaces in a virtual machine environment is also disclosed.
Abstract:
In one embodiment, a method includes identifying virtual machines operating at a network device and virtual local area networks associated with the virtual machines, creating an allowed list of virtual local area networks at the network device based on the virtual machines operating at the network device, and updating the allowed list in response to changes in the virtual machines at the network device. The network device is configured to forward traffic received from the virtual local area networks on the allowed list to a virtual switch at the network device, and drop traffic received from a virtual local area network not on the allowed list. An apparatus and logic are also disclosed.
Abstract:
In a virtual infrastructure, a single appliance is provided that hosts a centralized virtual machine monitor (VMM) control plane to effectively establish a single virtual switch across all virtual machines within one or more clusters of servers, thereby reducing the number of management points for the network administrator and facilitating easier VM migration.
Abstract:
A method is disclosed for performing message payload processing functions in a network element on behalf of an application. According to one aspect, a network element receives user-specified input that indicates a particular message classification. The network element also receives one or more data packets. Based on the data packets, the network element determines that an application layer message, which is collectively contained in payload portions of the data packets, matches the particular message classification. The network element processes at least a portion of the message by performing, on behalf of the application to which the message is directed, and relative to at least the portion of the message, one or more actions that are (a) specified in the user-specified input and (b) associated with the particular message classification.
Abstract:
In a virtual infrastructure, a single appliance is provided that hosts a centralized virtual machine monitor (VMM) control plane to effectively establish a single virtual switch across all virtual machines within one or more clusters of servers, thereby reducing the number of management points for the network administrator and facilitating easier VM migration.
Abstract:
A blade router for increased interface scalability is provided. The blade router may address interface scalability by having each of the linecards manage its interfaces locally and may use the concept of virtual and local interfaces for intelligent forwarding. The blade router may appear as a single router from the customer perspective during configuration. For some embodiments, two virtual interfaces may be used, one for regular interface traffic and another for Network Address Translation (NAT)-enabled interface traffic.
Abstract:
A data center topology routes traffic between internal sub-nets and between a sub-net and an outside network through a common chain of services. The data center topology employs transparent layer 7 and layer 4 services on a common chassis or platform to provide routing, load balancing and firewall services while reducing the number of devices necessary to implement the data center and simplifying configuration.
Abstract:
A mechanism and technique updates and synchronizes forwarding tables contained on line cards that are interconnected by a switch fabric of a distributed network switch. The network switch is preferably a L3 or L4 switch comprising a plurality of forwarding engines distributed among the line cards. Each forwarding engine has an associated forwarding table, which preferably includes a L2 portion and L3/L4 portions. The L2 portion of the table is used to execute forwarding decision operations for frames forwarded among ports of the line cards, whereas the L3/L4 portions of the table are used to execute shortcut and forwarding operations for frames routed among the ports. The mechanism comprises a media access control (MAC) notification (MN) frame for updating and synchronizing the location of a destination port stored in the L2 portions of the forwarding tables.