Method and apparatus for managing packet flows for multiple network services
First Claim
1. A method for simultaneously managing network data traffic for multiple network services, comprising:
- receiving flow rules for network data traffic from multiple network services, wherein the flow rules from the multiple network services can possibly conflict; and
collapsing the flow rules from the multiple network services into a consistent set of flow rules in a low-level form that can be efficiently applied to a packet flow; and
installing the consistent set of flow rules into a flow enforcement device, which applies the consistent set of flow rules to a packet flow received from a high-speed network connection;
whereby the flow rules from the multiple network services can be simultaneously applied to packet flow, instead of being applied separately by each network service.
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Abstract
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates managing network data traffic for multiple network services. During operation, the system receives flow rules for network data traffic from multiple network services, wherein the flow rules can possibly conflict. Next, the system collapses the flow rules from the multiple network services into a consistent set of flow rules in a low-level form that can be efficiently applied to a packet flow. The system subsequently installs the consistent set of flow rules into a flow enforcement device, which applies the consistent set of flow rules to a packet flow received from a high-speed network connection. In this way, the flow rules from the multiple network services can be simultaneously applied to packet flow, instead of being applied separately by each network service.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for simultaneously managing network data traffic for multiple network services, comprising:
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receiving flow rules for network data traffic from multiple network services, wherein the flow rules from the multiple network services can possibly conflict; and
collapsing the flow rules from the multiple network services into a consistent set of flow rules in a low-level form that can be efficiently applied to a packet flow; and
installing the consistent set of flow rules into a flow enforcement device, which applies the consistent set of flow rules to a packet flow received from a high-speed network connection;
whereby the flow rules from the multiple network services can be simultaneously applied to packet flow, instead of being applied separately by each network service. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for simultaneously managing network data traffic for multiple network services, the method comprising:
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receiving flow rules for network data traffic from multiple network services, wherein the flow rules from the multiple network services can possibly conflict; and
collapsing the flow rules from the multiple network services into a consistent set of flow rules in a low-level form that can be efficiently applied to a packet flow; and
installing the consistent set of flow rules into a flow enforcement device, which applies the consistent set of flow rules to a packet flow received from a high-speed network connection;
whereby the flow rules from the multiple network services can be simultaneously applied to packet flow, instead of being applied separately by each network service. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus that simultaneously manages network data traffic for multiple network services, comprising:
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a rule receiving mechanism configured to receive flow rules for network data traffic from multiple network services, wherein the flow rules from the multiple network services can possibly conflict; and
a collapsing mechanism configured to collapse the flow rules from the multiple network services into a consistent set of flow rules in a low-level form that can be efficiently applied to a packet flow; and
an installing mechanism configured to install the consistent set of flow rules into a flow enforcement device, which applies the consistent set of flow rules to a packet flow received from a high-speed network connection;
whereby the flow rules from the multiple network services can be simultaneously applied to packet flow, instead of being applied separately by each network service. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification