Network traffic processing according to network traffic rule criteria and transferring network traffic metadata in a network device that includes hosted virtual machines
First Claim
1. A network device adapted to process network traffic, the network device comprising:
- a memory;
a first network connection adapted to communicate first network traffic, wherein the first network connection is connected with a first network;
a second network connection adapted to communicate second network traffic, wherein the second network connection is connected with a second network;
a network traffic processing module connected with the first network connection and the second network connection;
a plurality of hosted virtual machines each adapted to execute at least one virtual machine application;
a virtual machine data interface connected with the plurality of hosted virtual machines and the network traffic processing module, wherein the virtual machine data interface is adapted to direct a first portion of the first network traffic and a first portion of the second network traffic according to network traffic rule criteria and network traffic rules;
a first network traffic tap adapted to direct at least the first portion of the first network traffic between the first network connection and the virtual machine data interface; and
a second network traffic tap adapted to direct at least a first portion of the second network traffic between the second network connection and the virtual machine data interface; and
at least one intra-module network traffic tap adapted to direct network traffic metadata from the network traffic processing module to the virtual machine data interface, wherein the network traffic metadata includes additional information describing application associated with the network traffic, and wherein the network traffic metadata is communicated to one or more virtual machine applications using an extended non-standard protocol that provides functionality of application programming interface;
wherein the virtual machine data interface is adapted to direct the first portion of the first network traffic and the first portion of the second network traffic between the first and second network traffic taps and the plurality of hosted virtual machines;
wherein the virtual machine data interface is adapted to direct the network traffic metadata between the intra-module network traffic tap and the plurality of hosted virtual machines.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Network devices include hosted virtual machines and virtual machine applications. Hosted virtual machines and their applications implement additional functions and services in network devices. Network devices include data taps for directing network traffic to hosted virtual machines and allowing hosted virtual machines to inject network traffic. Network devices include unidirectional data flow specifications, referred to as hyperswitches. Each hyperswitch is associated with a hosted virtual machine and receives network traffic received by the network device from a single direction. Each hyperswitch processes network traffic according to rules and rule criteria. A hosted virtual machine can be associated with multiple hyperswitches, thereby independently specifying the data flow of network traffic to and from the hosted virtual machine from multiple networks. The network device architecture also enables the communication of additional information between the network device and one or more virtual machine applications using an extended non-standard network protocol.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A network device adapted to process network traffic, the network device comprising:
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a memory; a first network connection adapted to communicate first network traffic, wherein the first network connection is connected with a first network; a second network connection adapted to communicate second network traffic, wherein the second network connection is connected with a second network; a network traffic processing module connected with the first network connection and the second network connection; a plurality of hosted virtual machines each adapted to execute at least one virtual machine application; a virtual machine data interface connected with the plurality of hosted virtual machines and the network traffic processing module, wherein the virtual machine data interface is adapted to direct a first portion of the first network traffic and a first portion of the second network traffic according to network traffic rule criteria and network traffic rules; a first network traffic tap adapted to direct at least the first portion of the first network traffic between the first network connection and the virtual machine data interface; and a second network traffic tap adapted to direct at least a first portion of the second network traffic between the second network connection and the virtual machine data interface; and at least one intra-module network traffic tap adapted to direct network traffic metadata from the network traffic processing module to the virtual machine data interface, wherein the network traffic metadata includes additional information describing application associated with the network traffic, and wherein the network traffic metadata is communicated to one or more virtual machine applications using an extended non-standard protocol that provides functionality of application programming interface; wherein the virtual machine data interface is adapted to direct the first portion of the first network traffic and the first portion of the second network traffic between the first and second network traffic taps and the plurality of hosted virtual machines; wherein the virtual machine data interface is adapted to direct the network traffic metadata between the intra-module network traffic tap and the plurality of hosted virtual machines. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification