Flow-based host discovery in SDN networks
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- selecting, by a software-defined networking (SDN) controller, a leaf network device in a network, the selecting being based on network topology information that is stored on the SDN controller;
determining, by the SDN controller, a traffic flow corresponding to a flow rule installed on the leaf network device, the traffic flow originating at a source host and ending at a destination host, the determining of the traffic flow being based on flow rule information that is stored on the SDN controller;
determining, by the SDN controller, a forward path for the traffic flow through the network, the determining of the forward path being performed by associating the flow rule with other flow rules for the traffic flow that are included in the flow rule information, the other flow rules being installed on other network devices in the network;
determining, by the SDN controller, host information for the source host and the destination host based on at least the forward path; and
determining a reverse path for the traffic flow through the network, the determining of the reverse path being performed by associating the flow rule with other flow rules included in the flow rule information that correspond to a reversed version of the traffic flow,wherein the determining of the reverse path allows the SDN controller to identify a first network device in the forward path and an output port of the first network device to which the source host is connected.
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Abstract
Techniques for performing flow-based host discovery in an SDN network are provided. According to one embodiment, an SDN controller can select, based on network topology information that is stored on the controller, a leaf network device in the network, and can determine a traffic flow corresponding to a flow rule installed on the leaf network device. The determining of the traffic flow can be based on flow rule information that is stored on the SDN controller. The SDN controller can further determine a forward path for the traffic flow through the network, where the determining of the forward path is performed by associating the flow rule with other flow rules for the traffic flow that are included in the flow rule information, and where the other flow rules are installed on other network devices in the network. The SDN controller can then determine, based on at least the forward path, host information for the source and destination hosts of the traffic flow.
9 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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selecting, by a software-defined networking (SDN) controller, a leaf network device in a network, the selecting being based on network topology information that is stored on the SDN controller; determining, by the SDN controller, a traffic flow corresponding to a flow rule installed on the leaf network device, the traffic flow originating at a source host and ending at a destination host, the determining of the traffic flow being based on flow rule information that is stored on the SDN controller; determining, by the SDN controller, a forward path for the traffic flow through the network, the determining of the forward path being performed by associating the flow rule with other flow rules for the traffic flow that are included in the flow rule information, the other flow rules being installed on other network devices in the network; determining, by the SDN controller, host information for the source host and the destination host based on at least the forward path; and determining a reverse path for the traffic flow through the network, the determining of the reverse path being performed by associating the flow rule with other flow rules included in the flow rule information that correspond to a reversed version of the traffic flow, wherein the determining of the reverse path allows the SDN controller to identify a first network device in the forward path and an output port of the first network device to which the source host is connected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A computer system, comprising:
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a processor; a storage component storing topology information for a network and flow rule information including flow rules that have been proactively configured in the network; and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon program code that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to; select a leaf network device in the network, the selecting being based on network topology information that is stored; determine a traffic flow corresponding to a flow rule installed on the leaf network device, the traffic flow originating at a source host and ending at a destination host, the determining of the traffic flow being based on the flow rule information; determine a forward path for the traffic flow through the network, the determining of the forward path being performed by associating the flow rule with other flow rules for the traffic flow that are included in the flow rule information, the other flow rules being installed on other network devices in the network; determine host information for the source host and the destination host based on at least the forward path; and determine a reverse path for the traffic flow through the network, the determining of the reverse path being performed by associating the flow rule with other flow rules included in the flow rule information that correspond to a reversed version of the traffic flow; wherein the determining of the reverse path allows the processor to identify a first network device in the forward path and an output port of the first network device to which the source host is connected.
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17. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon program code executable by a software-defined networking (SDN) controller, the program code comprising:
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code that causes the SDN controller to select a leaf network device in a network, the selecting being based on network topology information that is stored on the SDN controller; code that causes the SDN controller to determine a traffic flow corresponding to a flow rule installed on the leaf network device, the traffic flow originating at a source host and ending at a destination host, the determining of the traffic flow being based on flow rule information that is stored on the SDN controller; code that causes the SDN controller to determine a forward path for the traffic flow through the network, the determining of the forward path being performed by associating the flow rule with other flow rules for the traffic flow that are included in the flow rule information, the other flow rules being installed on other network devices in the network; code that causes the SDN controller to determine host information for the source host and the destination host based on at least the forward path; code that causes the SDN controller to monitor a flow counter maintained on the SDN controller that identifies a match count for the traffic flow; code that causes the SDN controller to determine whether the flow counter has increased within a user-defined time interval; and if the flow counter has not increased within the user-defined time interval, determining that the source host has become inactive.
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Specification