CENTRALIZED TCP TERMINATION WITH MULTI-SERVICE CHAINING
First Claim
1. A network element, comprising:
- a switch fabric;
a first service module coupled to the switch fabric;
a second service module coupled to the first service module over the switch fabric; and
a third service module coupled to the first service module and the second service module over the switch fabric,wherein in response to packets of a network transaction received from a client over a first network for access a server of a data center having a plurality of servers over a second network, the first service module is configured to terminate a TCP (transport control protocol) connection of the packets, wherein the TCP terminated packets are transmitted to the second and third service modules over the switch fabric, and wherein the second and third service modules are configured to perform different application network services on the TCP terminated packets without having to perform a TCP process again.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A network element having centralized TCP termination with multi-service chaining is described herein. According to one embodiment, a network element includes a switch fabric, a first service module coupled to the switch fabric, and a second and a third service modules coupled to the first service module over the switch fabric. In response to packets of a network transaction received from a client over a first network for access a server of a data center having multiple servers over a second network, the first service module is configured to terminate a TCP connection of the packets. The TCP terminated packets are transmitted to the second and third service modules over the switch fabric. The second and third service modules are configured to perform different application network services on the TCP terminated packets without having to perform a TCP process again. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A network element, comprising:
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a switch fabric; a first service module coupled to the switch fabric; a second service module coupled to the first service module over the switch fabric; and a third service module coupled to the first service module and the second service module over the switch fabric, wherein in response to packets of a network transaction received from a client over a first network for access a server of a data center having a plurality of servers over a second network, the first service module is configured to terminate a TCP (transport control protocol) connection of the packets, wherein the TCP terminated packets are transmitted to the second and third service modules over the switch fabric, and wherein the second and third service modules are configured to perform different application network services on the TCP terminated packets without having to perform a TCP process again. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method performed by a network element, the method comprising:
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receiving at a network element packets of a network transaction from a client over a first network for accessing a server of a data center having a plurality of servers over a second network, the network element including a plurality of service modules coupled to each other over a switch fabric; terminating a TCP (transport control protocol) connection of the packets at a first service module, generating a data stream representing a TCP terminated packets; and transmitting the data stream to a second service module and a third service module over the switch fabric for further processes, wherein the second and third service modules are configured to perform different application network services associated with the network transaction on the data stream without having to TCP termination related processes again. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A machine-readable medium having instructions stored therein, which when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform a method, the method comprising:
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receiving at a network element packets of a network transaction from a client over a first network for accessing a server of a data center having a plurality of servers over a second network, the network element including a plurality of service modules coupled to each other over a switch fabric; terminating a TCP (transport control protocol) connection of the packets at a first service module, generating a data stream representing a TCP terminated packets; and transmitting the data stream to a second service module and a third service module over the switch fabric for further processes, wherein the second and third service modules are configured to perform different application network services associated with the network transaction on the data stream without having to TCP termination related processes again. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification