Distributed operating system for network devices
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- generating, by a network device, a local topology that identifies which network entities are connected to each external port of the network device, wherein the network device is configured to execute a network device operation system (ndOS), wherein the network device is configured to share information associated with the local topology with other ndOS network devices that execute the ndOS;
receiving one or more remote local topologies from respective one or more ndOS network devices; and
generating a global topology based on the local topology and the one or more remote local topologies, wherein the global topology is shared by the network device and the ndOS network devices executing ndOS, wherein the global topology identifies which entities are connected to one or more of the ndOS network devices, andreceiving a packet with a destination media access control (MAC) address;
determining that the destination MAC address is not in the local topology; and
sending, by the network device, a discovery packet through a first external port to a second ndOS network device implementing ndOS, the discovery packet including a first device ID of the network device and a port ID of the first external port in the network device.
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Abstract
Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for managing a global network topology. One method includes an operation for generating, by a network device, a local topology identifying which network entities are connected to each external port of the network device. The network device is configured to execute a network device operation system (ndOS), and the network device is configured to share information associated with the local topology with other ndOS network devices that execute ndOS. Further, the method includes an operation for receiving one or more remote local topologies from respective one or more ndOS network devices. The network device generates a global topology based on the local topology and the one or more remote local topologies, where the global topology is shared by the network device and the ndOS network devices executing ndOS, and the global topology identifies which entities are connected to one or more of the ndOS network devices.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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generating, by a network device, a local topology that identifies which network entities are connected to each external port of the network device, wherein the network device is configured to execute a network device operation system (ndOS), wherein the network device is configured to share information associated with the local topology with other ndOS network devices that execute the ndOS; receiving one or more remote local topologies from respective one or more ndOS network devices; and generating a global topology based on the local topology and the one or more remote local topologies, wherein the global topology is shared by the network device and the ndOS network devices executing ndOS, wherein the global topology identifies which entities are connected to one or more of the ndOS network devices, and receiving a packet with a destination media access control (MAC) address;
determining that the destination MAC address is not in the local topology; and
sending, by the network device, a discovery packet through a first external port to a second ndOS network device implementing ndOS, the discovery packet including a first device ID of the network device and a port ID of the first external port in the network device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A network device, comprising:
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a switch fabric including a switch fabric classifier, a plurality of external ports and a plurality of internal ports, the switch fabric being configured for switching incoming packets received at the external ports; and a control processor configured to execute a network device operation system (ndOS), wherein network devices executing the ndOS are defined to switch layer 2 packets and to share network information with other network devices executing ndOS, wherein the control processor is configured to generate a local topology that identifies which network entities are connected to each of the plurality of external ports, wherein the control processor is configured to share information associated with the local topology with other ndOS network devices that execute the ndOS; wherein the control processor is configured to receive one or more remote local topologies from respective one or more ndOS network devices; wherein the control processor generates a global topology based on the local topology and the one or more remote local topologies, wherein the global topology is shared by the network device and the ndOS network devices executing ndOS, wherein the global topology identifies which entities are connected to one or more of the ndOS network devices, and receive a packet with a destination media access control (MAC) address;
determine that the destination MAC address is not in the local topology; and
send a discovery packet through a first external port to a second ndOS network device implementing ndOS, the discovery packet including a first device ID of the network device and a port ID of the first external port in the network device. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, comprising program instructions which, when executed by a network device, cause the network to:
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generate a local topology that identifies which network entities are connected to each external port of the network device, wherein the network device is configured to execute a network device operation system (ndOS), wherein the network device is configured to share information associated with the local topology with other ndOS network devices that execute the ndOS; receive one or more remote local topologies from respective one or more ndOS network devices; and generate a global topology based on the local topology and the one or more remote local topologies, wherein the global topology is shared by the network device and the ndOS network devices executing ndOS, wherein the global topology identifies which entities are connected to one or more of the ndOS network devices, and receive, a packet with a destination media access control (MAC) address; determine, that the destination MAC address is not in the local topology; and send, by the network device, a discovery packet through a first external port to a second ndOS network device implementing ndOS, the discovery packet including a first device ID of the network device and a port ID of the first external port in the network device. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification