System and method to exchange information between a control element and forwarding elements in a network element architecture
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- exchanging information between a control element (CE) and one or more forwarding element (FEs), the exchanging comprising;
executing a binding phase between the CE and a first one of FEs to provide a data channel and a control channel separate from the data channel, the data channel configured to transport packets including at least one of redirected packets from the first one of the FEs to the CE and packets to be forwarded from the CE to a second one of the FEs, the control channel configured to transport control and configuration messages;
executing a capability discovery phase between the CE and the first one of the FEs, the capability discovery phase comprising;
transmitting a capability request from the CE to the first one of the FEs;
transmitting a topology request from the CE to the first one of the FEs; and
executing a configuration operation phase between the CE and the first one of the FEs,wherein executing a binding phase further comprises;
transmitting a bind request, from the first one of the FEs to the CE, to establish the data channel and the control channel; and
transmitting a bind response, from the CE to the first one of the FEs after the first one of the FEs has received the bind request, the bind response indicating whether the data channel and the control channel are established.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A network element comprises a control element (CE), a plurality of forwarding element (FEs) and an interconnect in communication with said CE and at least one of said FEs. Communication across the interconnect between the CE and the plurality of FEs is done in accordance with a protocol that includes a binding phase used to provide a data channel between the CE and a first one of the FEs. The binding phase is further used to provide a control channel between the CE and the first one of the FEs, the control channel used to transport control and configuration messages. The control channel is separate from the data channel. The protocol also includes a capability discovery phase, a configuration operation phase and an unbind phase executed between the CE and the FE.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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exchanging information between a control element (CE) and one or more forwarding element (FEs), the exchanging comprising; executing a binding phase between the CE and a first one of FEs to provide a data channel and a control channel separate from the data channel, the data channel configured to transport packets including at least one of redirected packets from the first one of the FEs to the CE and packets to be forwarded from the CE to a second one of the FEs, the control channel configured to transport control and configuration messages; executing a capability discovery phase between the CE and the first one of the FEs, the capability discovery phase comprising; transmitting a capability request from the CE to the first one of the FEs; transmitting a topology request from the CE to the first one of the FEs; and executing a configuration operation phase between the CE and the first one of the FEs, wherein executing a binding phase further comprises; transmitting a bind request, from the first one of the FEs to the CE, to establish the data channel and the control channel; and transmitting a bind response, from the CE to the first one of the FEs after the first one of the FEs has received the bind request, the bind response indicating whether the data channel and the control channel are established. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A network element module comprising:
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a control element (CE); a plurality of forwarding elements (FEs); and an interconnect in communication with said CE and said plurality of FEs and wherein communication across said interconnect between the CE and the FE is accomplished by executing instructions causing a machine to; execute a binding phase between the CE and a first one of the FEs to provide a data channel and a control channel separate from the data channel, the data channel configured to transport packets including at least one of redirected packets from the first one of the FEs to the CE and packets to be forwarded from the CE to a second one of the FEs, the control channel configured to transport control and configuration messages; execute a capability discovery phase between the CE and the first one of the FEs, the capability discovery phase comprising; transmitting a capability request from the CE to the first one of the FEs; transmitting a topology request from the CE to the first one of the FEs; and execute a configuration operation phase between the CE and the first one of the FEs, wherein executing a binding phase further comprises; transmitting a bind request, from the first one of the FEs to the CE, to establish the data channel and the control channel; and transmitting a bind response from the CE to the first one of the FEs after the first one of the FEs has received the bind request, the bind response indicating whether the data channel and the control channel are established. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An article comprising:
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a storage medium having stored thereon instructions causing a machine to; execute a binding phase between the CE and a first one of the FEs to provide a data channel and a control channel separate from the data channel, the data channel configured to transport packets including at least one of redirected packets from the first one of the FEs to the CE and packets to be forwarded from the CE to a second one of the FEs, the control channel configured to transport control and configuration messages; execute a capability discovery phase between the CE and the first one of the FEs, the capability discovery phase comprising; transmitting a capability request from the CE to the first one of the FEs; transmitting a topology request from the CE to the first one of the FEs; execute a configuration operation phase between the CE and the first one of the FEs, wherein executing a binding phase further comprises; transmitting a bind request, from the first one of the FEs to the CE, to establish the data channel and the control channel; and transmitting a bind response from the CE to the first one of the FEs after the first one of the FEs has received said bind request, the bind response indicating whether the data channel and the control channel are established. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification