Software-based packet broker
First Claim
1. A packet broker for use in a visibility network, the packet broker comprising:
- a network device; and
a cluster of one or more processing nodes,wherein the network device receives a control or data packet replicated from a core network,wherein the network device forwards the control or data packet to at least one processing node in the cluster of one or more processing nodes,wherein the at least one processing node in the cluster executes one or more packet processing functions on the control or data packet, the one or more packet processing functions being operable to determine an egress port of the network device through which the control or data packet should be forwarded to a probe or tool of the visibility network for analysis, and to send the control or data packet with information relating to the determined egress port back to the network device, andwherein the network device is configured to, in response to receiving the control or data packet with information relating to the determined egress port from the at least one processing node, transmit the control or data packet out of the determined egress port.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques for implementing a software-based packet broker in a visibility network are provided. According to one embodiment, the software-based packet broker can comprise a network device and a cluster of one or more processing nodes. The network device can receive a control or data packet replicated from a core network and forward the control or data packet to the cluster of one or more processing nodes. At least one processing node in the cluster can then execute, in software, one or more packet processing functions on the control or data packet, where the one or more packet processing functions are operable to determine an egress port of the network device through which the control or data packet should be forwarded to a probe/tool of the visibility network for analysis.
339 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A packet broker for use in a visibility network, the packet broker comprising:
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a network device; and a cluster of one or more processing nodes, wherein the network device receives a control or data packet replicated from a core network, wherein the network device forwards the control or data packet to at least one processing node in the cluster of one or more processing nodes, wherein the at least one processing node in the cluster executes one or more packet processing functions on the control or data packet, the one or more packet processing functions being operable to determine an egress port of the network device through which the control or data packet should be forwarded to a probe or tool of the visibility network for analysis, and to send the control or data packet with information relating to the determined egress port back to the network device, and wherein the network device is configured to, in response to receiving the control or data packet with information relating to the determined egress port from the at least one processing node, transmit the control or data packet out of the determined egress port. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon program code executable by a processing node in a cluster of processing nodes, the cluster of processing nodes being configured to act, in concert with a hardware-based network device, as a packet broker in a visibility network, the program code causing the processing node to:
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receive a control or data packet from the network device, the control or data packet originating from a core network; and execute one or more packet processing functions on the control or data packet, the one or more packet processing functions being operable to determine an egress port of the network device through which the control or data packet should be forwarded to a probe or tool of the visibility network for analysis, and to send the control or data packet with information relating to the determined egress port back to the network device, and wherein the network device is configured to, in response to receiving the control or data packet with information relating to the determined egress port from the at least one processing node, transmit the control or data packet out of the determined egress port.
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18. A method performed by a processing node in a cluster of processing nodes, the cluster of processing nodes being configured to act, in concert with a hardware-based network device, as a packet broker in a visibility network, the method comprising:
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receiving, by the processing node, a control or data packet from the network device, the control or data packet originating from a core network; and executing one or more packet processing functions on the control or data packet, the one or more packet processing functions being operable to determine an egress port of the network device through which the control or data packet should be forwarded to a probe or tool of the visibility network for analysis, and to send the control or data packet with information relating to the determined egress port back to the network device, and wherein the network device is configured to, in response to receiving the control or data packet with information relating to the determined egress port from the at least one processing node, transmit the control or data packet out of the determined egress port.
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Specification