Systems and methods for forwarding network packets in a network using network domain topology information
First Claim
1. A method of maintaining end host attachment point information in a network having client switches that are controlled by a controller and non-client switches, wherein end hosts are coupled to the client and non-client switches, the method comprising:
- with the controller, maintaining network domain topology information that identifies client domains formed from client switches and non-client domains associated with non-client switches, wherein the non-client domains are interposed between the client domains;
with the controller, receiving a packet from an end host;
with the controller, identifying a network attachment point at the client switches for the end host based on the packet, wherein the client switches include ports and identifying the network attachment point for the end host comprises identifying, with the controller, a client switch and a port of the identified client switch to which the end host is coupled;
with the controller, determining whether to replace a previously identified network attachment point for the end host with the identified network attachment point based on network topology information maintained by the controller;
with the controller, retrieving the previously identified network attachment point for the end host from storage;
with the controller, identifying an inter-domain forwarding path from the identified client switch to the previously identified network attachment point using the network domain topology information;
with the controller, identifying a first-hop domain along the inter-domain forwarding path;
with the controller, identifying a domain that is associated with the identified network attachment point;
with the controller, determining whether the first-hop domain along the inter-domain forwarding path is the same as the domain of the identified network attachment point; and
with the controller, assigning the identified network attachment point to the end host in response to determining that the first-hop domain along the inter-domain forwarding path is the same as the domain of the identified network attachment point.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A controller may be used to control client switches in a network that includes non-client, switches. The controller may form client domains from groups of client switches that are separated by intervening non-client domains formed from non-client switches. The controller may determine a network domain topology from the client domains and non-client domains. The controller may determine a spanning tree that interconnects the nodes of the network domain topology. The controller may control client switches of the client domains to allow only network traffic between the client domains and the non-client domains along the spanning tree. The controller may use the network domain topology to generate inter-domain forwarding maps. The inter-domain forwarding maps may be used to determine network forwarding paths between end hosts in the network.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of maintaining end host attachment point information in a network having client switches that are controlled by a controller and non-client switches, wherein end hosts are coupled to the client and non-client switches, the method comprising:
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with the controller, maintaining network domain topology information that identifies client domains formed from client switches and non-client domains associated with non-client switches, wherein the non-client domains are interposed between the client domains; with the controller, receiving a packet from an end host; with the controller, identifying a network attachment point at the client switches for the end host based on the packet, wherein the client switches include ports and identifying the network attachment point for the end host comprises identifying, with the controller, a client switch and a port of the identified client switch to which the end host is coupled; with the controller, determining whether to replace a previously identified network attachment point for the end host with the identified network attachment point based on network topology information maintained by the controller; with the controller, retrieving the previously identified network attachment point for the end host from storage; with the controller, identifying an inter-domain forwarding path from the identified client switch to the previously identified network attachment point using the network domain topology information; with the controller, identifying a first-hop domain along the inter-domain forwarding path; with the controller, identifying a domain that is associated with the identified network attachment point; with the controller, determining whether the first-hop domain along the inter-domain forwarding path is the same as the domain of the identified network attachment point; and with the controller, assigning the identified network attachment point to the end host in response to determining that the first-hop domain along the inter-domain forwarding path is the same as the domain of the identified network attachment point. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of maintaining end host attachment point information in a network having client switches that are controlled by a controller and non-client switches, wherein end hosts are coupled to the client and non-client switches, the method comprising:
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with the controller, receiving a packet from an end host; with the controller, identifying a network attachment point at the client switches for the end host based on the packet, wherein identifying the network attachment point for the end host comprises identifying, with the controller, a client switch to which the end host is coupled; with the controller, determining whether to replace a previously identified network attachment point for the end host with the identified network attachment point based on network topology information maintained by the controller, wherein receiving the packet from the end host comprises receiving a packet in message from a client switch that includes the packet and wherein identifying the network attachment point for the end host comprises identifying the network attachment point for the end host based on the packet in message; with the controller, identifying an inter-domain forwarding path from the identified client switch to the previously identified network attachment point using the network domain topology information; with the controller, identifying a first-hog domain along the inter-domain forwarding path; with the controller, identifying a domain that is associated with the identified network attachment point; with the controller, determining whether the first-hop domain along the inter-domain forwarding path is the same as the domain of the identified network attachment point; and with the controller, assigning the identified network attachment point to the end host in response to determining that the first-hop domain along the inter-domain forwarding path is the same as the domain of the identified network attachment point. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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Specification