Disjoint multi-pathing for a data center network
First Claim
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1. A method for determining disjoint multi-paths in a data center fabric network system, the method comprising:
- creating a topology of a data center fabric network system using a switch controller, wherein the data center fabric network system comprises a plurality of switches and the switch controller coupled directly to the plurality of switches via secure communication links, the plurality of switches being restricted from executing a discovery protocol to determine paths to other switches in the data center fabric network system;
determining paths between the plurality of switches using path calculations performed by the switch controller;
calculating one or more disjoint multi-paths from a source device to a destination device using the switch controller based on the topology, the calculating comprising determining whether a fully disjoint multi-path is available from the source device to the destination device, the calculated one or more disjoint multi-paths being fully disjoint based on a determination that a fully disjoint multi-path is available from the source device to the destination device and being partially disjoint based on a determination that a fully disjoint multi-path is not available from the source device to the destination device;
writing, using the switch controller, the one or more disjoint multi-paths into a forwarding table of the source device, the source device being configured to communicate with the switch controller during the writing of the one or more disjoint multi-paths into the forwarding table; and
writing, using the switch controller, the one or more disjoint multi-paths into a switch forwarding table of a nearest shared switch to the source device so that all traffic sent from the source device is routed through the nearest shared switch.
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Abstract
A method for determining disjoint multi-paths in a data center fabric network system, according to one embodiment, includes creating a topology of a data center fabric network system, wherein the system comprises a plurality of switches; determining paths between the plurality of switches; calculating one or more disjoint multi-paths from a source device to a destination device in the system; and writing the one or more disjoint multi-paths into a forwarding table of at least one of: the source device and a nearest shared switch to the source device.
25 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for determining disjoint multi-paths in a data center fabric network system, the method comprising:
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creating a topology of a data center fabric network system using a switch controller, wherein the data center fabric network system comprises a plurality of switches and the switch controller coupled directly to the plurality of switches via secure communication links, the plurality of switches being restricted from executing a discovery protocol to determine paths to other switches in the data center fabric network system; determining paths between the plurality of switches using path calculations performed by the switch controller; calculating one or more disjoint multi-paths from a source device to a destination device using the switch controller based on the topology, the calculating comprising determining whether a fully disjoint multi-path is available from the source device to the destination device, the calculated one or more disjoint multi-paths being fully disjoint based on a determination that a fully disjoint multi-path is available from the source device to the destination device and being partially disjoint based on a determination that a fully disjoint multi-path is not available from the source device to the destination device; writing, using the switch controller, the one or more disjoint multi-paths into a forwarding table of the source device, the source device being configured to communicate with the switch controller during the writing of the one or more disjoint multi-paths into the forwarding table; and writing, using the switch controller, the one or more disjoint multi-paths into a switch forwarding table of a nearest shared switch to the source device so that all traffic sent from the source device is routed through the nearest shared switch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for determining disjoint multi-paths in a data center fabric network system, the method comprising:
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receiving, at a switch controller, reports of nearest neighbor devices from each of a plurality of switches in a data center fabric network system; creating a topology of the data center fabric network system using the switch controller, wherein the data center fabric network system comprises the plurality of switches and the switch controller coupled directly to the plurality of switches via secure communication links, the plurality of switches being restricted from executing a discovery protocol to determine paths to other switches in the system; determining paths between the plurality of switches, provided that the plurality of switches do not themselves execute a discovery protocol to determine paths to other switches in the system; storing the determined paths, using the switch controller, to a switch forwarding table in each switch of the plurality of switches; calculating one or more disjoint multi-paths from a source device to a destination device in the system using the switch controller, wherein each of the one or more disjoint multi-paths comprise at least two paths that are disjoint from one another to as great of an extent as possible given the topology of the data center fabric network system resulting in at least one fully redundant path between the source device and the destination device; and writing, using the switch controller, the one or more disjoint multi-paths into at least a forwarding table of a nearest shared switch to the source device that is part of at least one disjoint multi-path. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification