Managing a network by controlling edge and non-edge switching elements
First Claim
1. A network system comprising:
- a plurality of software managed edge (ME) switching elements that are each for (1) coupling to a set of network hosts that operate in a same physical machine as the software ME switching element and (2) forwarding network data, according to a set of flow entries that specify operations for implementing a logical datapath set (LDPS) to which the network hosts couple, to other software ME switching elements in the plurality of software ME switching elements and to the set of network hosts that operate in the same physical machine as the software ME switching elements in order to implement the LDPS;
a plurality of managed non-edge (MNE) switching elements, each operating on a separate physical machine from the network hosts and the other managed switching elements, for facilitating communication between the software ME switching elements in order to implement the LDPS; and
a set of network controller instances for (1) identifying a definition of the LDPS and (2) managing the MNE and ME switching elements by providing the MNE and ME switching elements with data for specifying the flow entries for forwarding network data between the sets of network hosts based on the identified definition of the LDPS.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Some embodiments provide a network system that includes several non-edge switching elements that are each for forwarding network data to other non-edge switching elements. The network system includes several edge switching elements that are each for (1) coupling to a set of network hosts and (2) forwarding network data to the non-edge switching elements and to the set of network hosts. Each of the non-edge switching elements of the several non-edge switching elements is further for forwarding network data to the several edge switching elements. The network system includes a set of network controllers for (1) receiving a definition of a logical switching element that couples to the sets of network hosts and (2) managing the several edge switching elements by configuring the several edge switching elements to forward network data between the sets of network hosts based on the definition of the logical switching element.
341 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A network system comprising:
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a plurality of software managed edge (ME) switching elements that are each for (1) coupling to a set of network hosts that operate in a same physical machine as the software ME switching element and (2) forwarding network data, according to a set of flow entries that specify operations for implementing a logical datapath set (LDPS) to which the network hosts couple, to other software ME switching elements in the plurality of software ME switching elements and to the set of network hosts that operate in the same physical machine as the software ME switching elements in order to implement the LDPS; a plurality of managed non-edge (MNE) switching elements, each operating on a separate physical machine from the network hosts and the other managed switching elements, for facilitating communication between the software ME switching elements in order to implement the LDPS; and a set of network controller instances for (1) identifying a definition of the LDPS and (2) managing the MNE and ME switching elements by providing the MNE and ME switching elements with data for specifying the flow entries for forwarding network data between the sets of network hosts based on the identified definition of the LDPS. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A network system comprising:
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a first plurality of physical host machines, each physical host machine comprising; a set of network hosts that couples to a logical datapath set (LDPS); and a software managed edge (ME) switching element for (1) coupling to the network hosts that operate in the physical host machine and (2) forwarding network data, according to a set of flow entries that specify operations for implementing the LDPS, to other software ME switching elements of other physical host machines in the first plurality of physical host machines and to the set of network hosts in order to implement the LDPS; a second plurality of physical machines without network hosts that operate as managed non-edge (MNE) switching elements, the plurality of MNE switching elements for facilitating communication between the software ME switching elements in order to implement the LDPS; and a set of network controller instances for (1) identifying a definition of the LDPS and (2) managing the ME and MNE switching elements by providing the MNE and ME switching elements with data for specifying the flow entries for forwarding network data between the sets of network hosts based on the identified definition of the LDPS. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification