Guaranteeing bandwidth for dual-homed hosts in fabric extender topologies
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- at a first switch in a network, the first switch connected over first port links to a multi-homed first port extender device configured to provide an initially active first link with a server over which the first switch communicates with the server, the first switch connected to a second switch that is connected to a second port extender device configured to provide an initially passive second link with the server, the second switch connected over second port links to the first port extender, the first switch configured with information indicating a minimum bandwidth capacity requirement of the first port extender for communication with the server that is to be guaranteed;
routing traffic to the server via a first path including the first port links and the first port extender, and via a second path including the second switch, the second port links, and the first extender;
receiving information describing a network bandwidth capacity of the first port extender device for communication with the server, including a first network bandwidth capacity of the first port links and a second network bandwidth capacity of the second port links;
comparing the received network bandwidth capacity represented as a sum of the first and second network bandwidth capacities to the minimum bandwidth capacity requirement that is to be guaranteed; and
if the comparing indicates that the received network bandwidth capacity of the first port extender is less than the minimum network bandwidth capacity requirement that is to be guaranteed, initiating a port extender device change event to deactivate the first link and activate the second link to enable communication between the first switch and the server through the second switch and the second port extender device instead of the first port extender.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques are provided for optimizing bandwidth in a network. Information describing a network bandwidth capacity of a port extender device is received at a switch. The port extender device is connected to the switch. The port extender device is configured to provide ports for the switch. The network bandwidth capacity of the port extender device is compared to a minimum network bandwidth guarantee threshold. If the switch determines that the network bandwidth capacity of the port extender device is below the minimum network guarantee threshold, the switch sends to the port extender device a message configured to cause the port extender to deactivate one or more links between the port extender device and one or more servers in communication with the port extender device.
14 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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at a first switch in a network, the first switch connected over first port links to a multi-homed first port extender device configured to provide an initially active first link with a server over which the first switch communicates with the server, the first switch connected to a second switch that is connected to a second port extender device configured to provide an initially passive second link with the server, the second switch connected over second port links to the first port extender, the first switch configured with information indicating a minimum bandwidth capacity requirement of the first port extender for communication with the server that is to be guaranteed; routing traffic to the server via a first path including the first port links and the first port extender, and via a second path including the second switch, the second port links, and the first extender; receiving information describing a network bandwidth capacity of the first port extender device for communication with the server, including a first network bandwidth capacity of the first port links and a second network bandwidth capacity of the second port links; comparing the received network bandwidth capacity represented as a sum of the first and second network bandwidth capacities to the minimum bandwidth capacity requirement that is to be guaranteed; and if the comparing indicates that the received network bandwidth capacity of the first port extender is less than the minimum network bandwidth capacity requirement that is to be guaranteed, initiating a port extender device change event to deactivate the first link and activate the second link to enable communication between the first switch and the server through the second switch and the second port extender device instead of the first port extender. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15)
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8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage media encoded with software comprising computer executable instructions and when the software is executed operable to, at a first switch in a network, the first switch connected over first port links to a multi-homed first port extender device configured to provide an initially active first link with a server over which the first switch communicates with the server, the first switch connected to a second switch that is connected to a second port extender device configured to provide an initially passive second link with the server, the second switch connected over second port links to the first port extender, the first switch configured with information indicating a minimum bandwidth capacity requirement of the first port extender for communication with the server that is to be guaranteed:
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route traffic to the server via a first path including the first port links and the first port extender, and via a second path including the second switch, the second port links, and the first extender; receive information describing a network bandwidth capacity of the first port extender device for communication with the server, including a first network bandwidth capacity of the first port links and a second network bandwidth capacity of the second port links; compare the received network bandwidth capacity represented as a sum of the first and second network bandwidth capacities to the minimum bandwidth capacity requirement that is to be guaranteed; and if the compare indicates that the received network bandwidth capacity of the first port extender is less than the minimum network bandwidth capacity requirement, initiate a port extender device change event to deactivate the first link and activate the second link to enable communication between the first switch and the server through the second switch and the second port extender device instead of the first port extender. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 16, 17)
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12. An apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of ports; and a processor of a first switch coupled to the ports, at least one of the ports in communication over first port links with a multi-homed first port extender device configured to provide an initially active first link with a server over which the first switch communicates with the server, the first switch connected to a second switch that is connected to a second port extender device configured to provide an initially passive second link with the server, the second switch connected over second port links to the first port extender, the first switch configured with information indicating a minimum bandwidth capacity requirement of the first port extender for communication with the server that is to be guaranteed, the processor configured to; route traffic to the server via a first path including the first port links and the first port extender, and via a second path including the second switch, the second port links, and the first extender; receive information describing a network bandwidth capacity of the first port extender device for communication with the server, including a first network bandwidth capacity of the first port links and a second network bandwidth capacity of the second port links; compare the received network bandwidth capacity represented as a sum of the first and second network bandwidth capacities to the minimum bandwidth capacity requirement that is to be guaranteed; and if the compare indicates that the received network bandwidth capacity of the first port extender is less than the minimum network bandwidth capacity requirement, initiate a port extender device change event to deactivate the first link and activate the second link to enable communication between the first switch and the server through the second switch and the second port extender device instead of the first port extender. - View Dependent Claims (13, 18)
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Specification