Redirecting network traffic based on content
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An access switch device, comprising:
- a forwarding table that maps groups of destination addresses to respective outputs of the access switch device;
a quick lookup table that stores a plurality of entries, each entry of the plurality of entries having a corresponding data stream;
a flow matching module configured to;
determine that a packet received at the access switch device corresponds to a data stream that has a corresponding entry in the quick lookup table, wherein the entry includes a label associated with the data stream;
in response to determining that the data stream corresponding to the packet has a corresponding entry in the quick lookup table, affix the label to the packet; and
forward the packet to an output port of the access switch device, the output port selected based on the label; and
an expiration module configured to;
determine that at least one of the plurality of entries has been stored in the quick lookup table for an amount of time exceeding a predetermined threshold; and
when the at least one of the plurality of entries is determined to have been stored in the quick lookup table for longer than the pre-determined threshold, purge the entry from the quick lookup table.
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Abstract
A rule indicates that data having particular characteristics be automatically routed to a particular destination. When software on a switching device detects a new data stream, it is analyzed to determine whether it has characteristics specified by the rule. If it does, the packet is encapsulated with a special tag, indicating that the packet should be routed to the new destination. Also, an entry is added to a quick-lookup table in the switching device. The entry indicates that future packets in the data stream that have the same source and destination port and address should also be routed to the new destination.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. An access switch device, comprising:
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a forwarding table that maps groups of destination addresses to respective outputs of the access switch device; a quick lookup table that stores a plurality of entries, each entry of the plurality of entries having a corresponding data stream; a flow matching module configured to; determine that a packet received at the access switch device corresponds to a data stream that has a corresponding entry in the quick lookup table, wherein the entry includes a label associated with the data stream; in response to determining that the data stream corresponding to the packet has a corresponding entry in the quick lookup table, affix the label to the packet; and forward the packet to an output port of the access switch device, the output port selected based on the label; and an expiration module configured to; determine that at least one of the plurality of entries has been stored in the quick lookup table for an amount of time exceeding a predetermined threshold; and when the at least one of the plurality of entries is determined to have been stored in the quick lookup table for longer than the pre-determined threshold, purge the entry from the quick lookup table. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system for routing traffic from an access switch device through a network that includes a plurality of switching devices, comprising:
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a forwarding table that maps groups of destination addresses to respective outputs of the access switch device; a quick lookup table that stores a plurality of entries, each entry of the plurality of entries having a corresponding data stream; a flow matching module configured to determine that a packet received at the access switch device corresponds to a data stream that has a corresponding entry in the quick lookup table; a business rule module configured to select a rule from a plurality of rules, the selected rule corresponding to the data stream, wherein the rule specifies a destination address for the packet; and a label determination module configured to, in response to the business rule module selecting the rule, create a label to affix to the packet, the label indicating to a plurality of switching devices how to route the packet to the destination address; wherein the quick lookup table is configured to store an entry including the label, wherein the entry corresponds to the data stream, wherein the label is received from the label determination module, wherein the flow matching module is further configured to, in response to the quick lookup table storing the entry; affix the label to the packet; and forward the packet to an output port of the access switch device, the output port selected based on the label. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification