Distributed data center access switch

• US 20100214949A1
• Filed: 02/23/2009
• Published: 08/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bakke, Mark, Smith, Michael, Elangovan, Anusankar, Thompson, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,213,336 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/586 of virtual routers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/35 Switches specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/70 Virtual switches

Abstract

In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a processor configured for operation in a control plane in a distributed virtual switch in communication with a plurality of virtual machines each having a virtual interface. The processor is operable to identify other control planes in the distributed virtual switch, assign a virtual interface identifier to one of the virtual interfaces, receive a configuration for the virtual interface, and share the configuration with the other control planes in the distributed virtual switch. The virtual interface identifier provides a unique identifier for the virtual interface across all of the control planes. The apparatus further includes memory for storing the configuration of the virtual interface. A method for operating a network device associated with a control in the distributed virtual switch is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for operating a network device associated with a control plane in a distributed virtual switch in communication with a plurality of virtual machines each comprising a virtual interface, the method comprising:

identifying at the network device, other control planes in the distributed virtual switch;

assigning a virtual interface identifier to one of said virtual interfaces, wherein said virtual interface identifier provides a unique identifier for said virtual interface across all of said control planes; and

receiving a configuration for said virtual interface and sharing said configuration with said other control planes in the distributed virtual switch.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving a configuration comprises receiving a port profile for said virtual interface.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving notification of a location of one or more of said virtual interfaces.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising identifying a new virtual interface at the network device and receiving state information for the new virtual interface from one of said other control planes previously associated with the new virtual interface.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein receiving said state information comprises receiving an IP address of said control plane previously associated with the new virtual interface and requesting said state information.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising transmitting a location of the new virtual interface.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the control plane associated with the network device operates as a server control plane and said other control planes operate as client control planes.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein one of said other control planes operate as a backup server control plane.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising transmitting a server control plane IP address to said client control planes.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising configuring port profiles for each of said plurality of virtual machines and transmitting said port profiles to said client control planes.

11. The method of claim 7 further comprising receiving a request for one or more of said virtual interface identifiers from one of said client control planes.

12. An apparatus comprising:

a processor configured for operation in a control plane in a distributed virtual switch in communication with a plurality of virtual machines each comprising a virtual interface, the processor operable to identify other control planes in the distributed virtual switch, assign a virtual interface identifier to one of said virtual interfaces, wherein said virtual interface identifier provides a unique identifier for said virtual interface across all of said control planes, receive a configuration for said virtual interface, and share said configuration with said other control planes in the distributed virtual switch; and

memory for storing said configuration of said virtual interface.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said configuration comprises a port profile.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the processor is configured to identify a new virtual interface and receive state information for the new virtual interface from one of said other control planes previously associated with the new virtual interface.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the apparatus is a data center access switch.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the control plane operates as a server control plane and said other control planes operate as client control planes.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein one of said other control planes operate as a backup server control plane.

18. Logic encoded in one or more tangible media for execution and when executed operable to:

identify control planes in a distributed virtual switch in communication with a plurality of virtual machines each comprising a virtual interface;

assign a virtual interface identifier to one of said virtual interfaces, wherein said virtual interface identifier provides a unique identifier for said virtual interface across all of said control planes; and

receive a configuration for said virtual interface and share said configuration with said control planes in the distributed virtual switch.

19. The logic of claim 18 wherein the logic is operable to identify a new virtual interface and receive state information for the new virtual interface from one of said other control planes previously associated with the new virtual interface.

20. The logic of claim 18 wherein the logic is operable to transmit a location of one or more of said virtual interfaces in the distributed virtual switch.