Traffic flow classification
First Claim
1. A system for classifying traffic flows comprising:
- a traffic agent operable to be deployed at an end host within a user space in physical memory independent of a kernel space of the physical memory, the traffic agent running on the end host comprising the physical memory and a processor, the end host communicatively coupled to a data-center network comprising multiple end hosts and an intermediate network device, the traffic agent further operable to utilize a library within the traffic agent to monitor traffic flows originating at the end host;
a send function provided with the library operable to send at least one frame/packet pertaining to the individual traffic flow from a socket at the end host;
a collection module within the traffic agent and operable to collect classification information for at least one traffic flow originating at the end host;
a classification module within the traffic agent and operable to classify an individual traffic flow from the at least one traffic flow as an elephant flow where at least one value of the classification information for the individual traffic flow exceeds a corresponding threshold value for a flow metric; and
the collection module comprising a portion of the send function operable to copy the classification information from a call to the send function for classification analysis by the classification module.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are disclosed for classifying traffic flows. A traffic agent operable to collect classification information for one or more traffic flows may be deployed at an end host communicatively coupled to a data-center network. The traffic agent, deployed in a user space independent of the operating system, may compare the classification information for a given traffic flow to a metric value. Where the classification information achieves a certain threshold indicated by the metric value, the traffic agent may classify the traffic flow as an elephant flow. In some examples, a library may be included with the traffic agent that may include a modified send function. The modified send function may provide classification information to the traffic agent indexed to the traffic flow for which it is called so that the traffic agent may analyze the classification information to potentially provide a classification for the traffic flow.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A system for classifying traffic flows comprising:
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a traffic agent operable to be deployed at an end host within a user space in physical memory independent of a kernel space of the physical memory, the traffic agent running on the end host comprising the physical memory and a processor, the end host communicatively coupled to a data-center network comprising multiple end hosts and an intermediate network device, the traffic agent further operable to utilize a library within the traffic agent to monitor traffic flows originating at the end host; a send function provided with the library operable to send at least one frame/packet pertaining to the individual traffic flow from a socket at the end host; a collection module within the traffic agent and operable to collect classification information for at least one traffic flow originating at the end host; a classification module within the traffic agent and operable to classify an individual traffic flow from the at least one traffic flow as an elephant flow where at least one value of the classification information for the individual traffic flow exceeds a corresponding threshold value for a flow metric; and the collection module comprising a portion of the send function operable to copy the classification information from a call to the send function for classification analysis by the classification module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for detecting large flows in a data-center network comprising:
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provisioning a library to an end host communicatively coupled to a data-center network, the library comprising a send function operable to send frames/packets from a socket at the end host and to capture classification information related to the frames/packets; collecting, from within a user space at the end host, classification information collected by the send function for a traffic flow; comparing the classification information for the traffic flow to a flow metric value; and classifying the traffic flow as a large flow where a value in the classification information achieves the flow metric value. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for classifying traffic flows comprising:
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an end host communicatively coupled to a data-center network; an operating system residing at the end host; a traffic agent residing within a user space at the end host independent of a kernel space of the operating system, a library within the traffic agent; an altered send function, within the library, the altered send function altered to copy classification information from a call of the send function enabling the traffic agent to; monitor a traffic flow generated at the end host for a period of time; compile classification information for the traffic flow; the traffic agent further operable to; compare the classification information to a metric value; and classify the traffic flow as an elephant flow where the classification information achieves a predetermined level relative to the metric value. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification