Traffic forwarding for virtual machines

• US 20100275199A1
• Filed: 04/28/2009
• Published: 10/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Elangovan, Anusankar, Fazzone, Paul, Smith, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,589,919 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 718/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/45533 Hypervisors; Virtual machine monitors
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/65 Re-configuration of fast packet switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/70 Virtual switches

Abstract

In one embodiment, an apparatus configured for communication with a plurality of virtual machines includes a virtual switch in communication with one or more of the virtual machines, an interface in communication with one or more of the virtual machines and configured for communication with a hardware implemented switch, and a mode selector for assigning to each of the virtual machines, a mode of operation for forwarding data from the virtual machine and switching the assigned mode of operation at one or more of the virtual machines. The mode of operation is selected from a first mode wherein the data is forwarded by the hardware implemented switch and a second mode wherein the data is forwarded by the virtual switch.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

communicating with a plurality of virtual machines located at a network device;

assigning to each of said virtual machines, a mode of operation for forwarding data from said virtual machine, said mode of operation selected from a first mode wherein said data is forwarded by a hardware implemented switch, and a second mode wherein said data is forwarded by a virtual switch at the network device; and

switching said assigned mode of operation at one or more of said virtual machines.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein switching said assigned mode comprises dynamically switching said assigned mode based on operation of said virtual machine.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said dynamic switching is based on traffic patterns at said virtual machine.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said dynamic switching is based on configuration of said virtual machine.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein said dynamic switching is based on availability of hardware resources.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said virtual switch comprises logic encoded in one or more tangible media for execution and when executed is operable to forward said data from one of said virtual machines to another of said virtual machines, both of said virtual machines in said second mode of operation.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said first mode of operation further comprises transmitting said data to an interface located at the network device and in communication with the hardware implemented switch.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said interface comprises a plurality of virtual network tags, one of said virtual network tags associated with said virtual switch, and one or more of remaining said virtual network tags each associated with one of said virtual machines in said first mode of operation.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the network device is a server and the hardware implemented switch is physically independent of the server.

10. An apparatus configured for communication with a plurality of virtual machines, said apparatus comprising:

a virtual switch in communication with one or more of said virtual machines;

an interface in communication with one or more of said virtual machines and configured for communication with a hardware implemented switch; and

a mode selector for assigning to each of said virtual machines, a mode of operation for forwarding data from said virtual machine, said mode of operation selected from a first mode wherein said data is forwarded by the hardware implemented switch, and a second mode wherein said data is forwarded by said virtual switch, and switching said assigned mode of operation at one or more of said virtual machines;

wherein said one or more virtual machines in communication with said interface are in said first mode of operation and said one or more virtual machines in communication with said virtual switch are in said second mode of operation.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the mode selector is configured to dynamically switch between said modes based on operation of said virtual machine.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a monitor for monitoring traffic transmitted from said virtual machines.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the mode selector is configured to dynamically switch between said modes of operation based on traffic patterns recorded by the monitor.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said interface comprises a plurality of virtual network tags, one of said virtual network tags associated with said virtual switch and one or more of remaining said virtual network tags each associated with one of said virtual machines in communication with said interface.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the mode selector is configured to track the number of available virtual network tags and switch one of said virtual machines from said first mode to said second mode based on the number of available virtual network tags.

16. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said virtual switch comprises logic encoded in one or more tangible media for execution and when executed is operable to forward said data from one of said virtual machines to another of said virtual machines, both of said virtual machines in said second mode of operation.

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

communicate with a plurality of virtual machines located at a network device;

assign to each of said virtual machines, a mode of operation for forwarding data from said virtual machine, said mode of operation selected from a first mode wherein said data is forwarded by a hardware implemented switch, and a second mode wherein said data is forwarded by a virtual switch at the network device; and

switch said assigned mode of operation at one or more of said virtual machines

18. The logic of claim 17 wherein the logic is operable to dynamically switch between said modes based on operation of said virtual machines.

19. The logic of claim 17 wherein the logic is operable to dynamically switch between said modes based on traffic patterns at said virtual machine.

20. The logic of claim 17 wherein the logic is operable to dynamically switch between said modes based on availability of hardware resources.