Computer system, server, open flow controller and communication method

• US 9,397,937 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2012
• Issued: 07/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Sugihara, Tomoaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Steven H
• Application Number:
  US14/003,782
• Publication Number:
  US 20130343393A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,614 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2213/0038 System on Chip
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/38 Flow based routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/42 Centralised routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/64 using an overlay routing layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/74 Address processing for routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/193 at the transport layer, e.g. TCP related

Abstract

In a computer system according to the present invention, a host sends a packet in which protocol information above a TCP layer and within a transport layer is included in an option area of a TCP header. An open flow controller set a flow entry wick defines a forwarding destination corresponding to the protocol information, in a switch. An open flow switch forwards the received packet toward a forwarding destination which corresponds to the protocol information included in the TCP header of the received packed. As a result, an adaptation of the computer system is increased.

Claims

1. A computer system, comprising:

an open flow controller;

open flow switches each of which is configured to carry out a relaying operation for a received packet which complies with a flow entry set by the open flow controller, in accordance with the flow entry; and

a host connected to the open flow switches,

wherein the host is configured to send the packet in which an iSCSI (Internet Small Computer System Interface) name within a transport layer and above a TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) layer is stored in an option area of a TCP header,

wherein the open flow controller is configured to set the flow entry which defines a forwarding destination corresponding to the iSCSI name, in each of the open flow switches, and

wherein the each open flow switch is configured to forward the received packet to the forwarding destination in accordance with the flow entry which complies with the iSCSI name included in the TCP header of the received packet.

2. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the iSCSI name identifies a destination host that is a target, and

wherein the open flow controller is configured to set the flow entry which defines the forwarding destination corresponding to the iSCSI name, in each of the open flow switches arranged on a route connecting the host and the destination host.

3. The computer system according to claim 2, wherein the iSCSI name includes only an initiator name, or includes only a target name.

4. The computer system according to claim 2, wherein the destination host comprises a logical disk.

5. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the iSCSI name identifies a destination host that is a target.

6. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the host is configured to send the packet in which protocol information includes the iSCSI name.

7. A server used as a host in a computer system, wherein the computer system comprises:

an open flow controller;

open flow switches each of which is configured to carry out a relaying operation for a received packet which complies with a flow entry set by the open flow controller, in accordance with the flow entry; and

the host connected to the open flow switches,

wherein the host is configured to send the packet in which an iSCSI (Internet Small Computer System Interface) name within a transport layer and above a TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) layer is stored in an option area of a TCP header,

wherein the open flow controller is configured to set the flow entry which defines a forwarding destination corresponding to the iSCSI name, in each of the open flow switches, and

wherein the each open flow switch is configured to forward the received packet to a forwarding destination in accordance with the flow entry which complies with the iSCSI name included in a TCP header of the received packet.

8. An open flow controller used in a computer system, wherein the computer system comprises:

the open flow controller;

open flow switches each of which is configured to carry out a relaying operation for a received packet which complies with a flow entry set by the open flow controller, in accordance with the flow entry; and

a host connected to the open flow switches,

wherein the host is configured to send the packet in which an iSCSI (Internet Small Computer System Interface) name within a transport layer and above a TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) layer is stored in an option area of a TCP header,

wherein the open flow controller is configured to set the flow entry which defines a forwarding destination corresponding to the iSCSI name, in each of the open flow switches, and

wherein the each open flow switch is configured to forward the received packet to a forwarding destination in accordance with the flow entry which complies with the iSCSI name included in a TCP header of the received packet.

9. Each of open flow switches used in a computer system, wherein the computer system comprises:

an open flow controller;

the open flow switches each of which is configured to carry out a relaying operation for a received packet which complies with a flow entry set by the open flow controller, in accordance with the flow entry; and

a host connected to the open flow switches,

wherein the host is configured to send the packet in which an iSCSI (Internet Small Computer System Interface) name within a transport layer and above a TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) layer is stored in an option area of a TCP header,

wherein the open flow controller is configured to set the flow entry which defines a forwarding destination corresponding to the iSCSI name, in each of the open flow switches, and

wherein the each open flow switch is configured to forward the received packet to a forwarding destination in accordance with the flow entry which complies with the iSCSI name included in a TCP header of the received packet.

10. A communication method, comprising:

sending a packet in which an iSCSI (Internet Small Computer System Interface) name within a transport layer and above a TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) layer is stored in a TCP header, by a host;

setting a flow entry which defines a forwarding destination corresponding to the iSCSI name, in each of open flow switches, by an open flow controller; and

forwarding the received packet to the forwarding destination in accordance with the flow entry which complies with the iSCSI name included in the TCP header of the received packet, by the each open flow switch.

11. The communication method according to claim 10, wherein the protocol information includes the iSCSI name which identifies a destination host that is a target, and

wherein the open flow controller is configured to set the flow entry which defines the forwarding destination corresponding to the iSCSI name, in each of the open flow switches arranged on a route connecting the host and the destination host.

12. The communication method to claim 11, wherein the ISCSI name includes only an initiator name, or includes only a target name.

13. The communication method according to claim 10, wherein said sending a packet includes storing the iSCSI name in an option area of the TCP header to generate the packet, by the host.