Method and apparatus for achieving dynamic capacity and high availability in multi-stage data networks using adaptive flow-based routing
First Claim
1. A method, comprising determining, in a centralized fashion, paths for flows within a multi-stage network made up of processing nodes grouped into clusters having similar functionality, by encoding node selection information representing flow path decisions for all clusters of the multi-stage network in packets of each flow within the multi-stage network, the centralized determination being made by a designated node acting as an entry point for the flows into the multi-stage network and that sets up an end-to-end flow paths within the multi-stage network.
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Abstract
Methods and systems for determining paths for flows within a multi-stage network made up of clusters of processing nodes. The flow paths may be determined without knowledge of whether or not packets of a particular flow will actually traverse specific ones of the clusters within the multi-stage network. In various implementations, the nodes of the multi-stage network may be coupled to one or more physical network switches through respective physical interfaces and a virtual connectivity grid superimposed thereon and configured through the use of a flow routing framework and system management framework to group the nodes into a number of clusters. The nodes of each cluster are configured to perform similar packet processing functions and the clusters are interconnected through virtual networks to which the nodes are communicatively coupled via virtual interfaces overlaid on top of the physical network interfaces.
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Citations
21 Claims
- 1. A method, comprising determining, in a centralized fashion, paths for flows within a multi-stage network made up of processing nodes grouped into clusters having similar functionality, by encoding node selection information representing flow path decisions for all clusters of the multi-stage network in packets of each flow within the multi-stage network, the centralized determination being made by a designated node acting as an entry point for the flows into the multi-stage network and that sets up an end-to-end flow paths within the multi-stage network.
- 12. A method, comprising determining, in a distributed fashion, paths for flows within a multi-stage network made up of processing nodes grouped into clusters having similar functionality, by encoding node selection information representing flow path decisions for all clusters of the multi-stage network in packets of each flow within the multi-stage network, wherein next hops in the paths for the flows are locally determined at each of the nodes as packets of the flows traverse the flow paths within the multi-stage network.
Specification