Route tracing in software defined networks
First Claim
1. A method, in a data processing system comprising a processor and a memory and implementing a software defined network (SDN) controller, for tracing a route taken by a packet in a SDN, the method comprising:
- assigning, by the SDN controller, each switch in the SDN a first color label, from a set of color labels, such that adjacent switches have different color labels;
installing, by the SDN controller, one or more rules in each switch to forward a received data packet to the SDN controller in response to a second color label of the received data packet not matching the first color label assigned to the switch;
assigning, by the SDN controller, a second color label, from the set of color labels, to a trace data packet;
tracing, by the SDN controller, a route of the trace data packet through the SDN based on the second color label and application of the one or more rules to the trace data packet at each of the switches in the SDN as the trace data packet is received by each of the switches in the SDN;
receiving, by the SDN controller, the trace data packet from a second switch in the SDN, to which the trace data packet was forwarded by a first switch in the SDN, in response to the one or more rules installed in the second switch indicating that the second color label of the trace data packet does not match a first color label assigned to the second switch;
recording, by the SDN controller, in a trace data structure, trace information extracted from the received trace data packet;
updating, by the SDN controller, the second color label of the trace data packet to be a color label matching the first color label assigned to the second switch to generate an updated trace data packet with an updated first color label; and
forwarding, by the SDN controller, the updated trace data packet to the second switch.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Mechanisms are provided for tracing a route taken by a packet in a Software Defined Network (SDN). Each switch in the SDN is assigned a first color label, from a set of color labels, such that such that adjacent switches have different color labels. Rules are installed in each switch to forward a received data packet to the SDN controller in response to a second color label of the received data packet not matching the first color label assigned to the switch. A second color label, from the set of color labels, is assigned to a trace data packet. A route of the trace data packet is traced through the SDN based on the second color label and application of the one or more rules to the trace data packet at each of the switches in the SDN as the trace data packet is received by each of the switches in the SDN.
18 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method, in a data processing system comprising a processor and a memory and implementing a software defined network (SDN) controller, for tracing a route taken by a packet in a SDN, the method comprising:
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assigning, by the SDN controller, each switch in the SDN a first color label, from a set of color labels, such that adjacent switches have different color labels; installing, by the SDN controller, one or more rules in each switch to forward a received data packet to the SDN controller in response to a second color label of the received data packet not matching the first color label assigned to the switch; assigning, by the SDN controller, a second color label, from the set of color labels, to a trace data packet; tracing, by the SDN controller, a route of the trace data packet through the SDN based on the second color label and application of the one or more rules to the trace data packet at each of the switches in the SDN as the trace data packet is received by each of the switches in the SDN; receiving, by the SDN controller, the trace data packet from a second switch in the SDN, to which the trace data packet was forwarded by a first switch in the SDN, in response to the one or more rules installed in the second switch indicating that the second color label of the trace data packet does not match a first color label assigned to the second switch; recording, by the SDN controller, in a trace data structure, trace information extracted from the received trace data packet; updating, by the SDN controller, the second color label of the trace data packet to be a color label matching the first color label assigned to the second switch to generate an updated trace data packet with an updated first color label; and forwarding, by the SDN controller, the updated trace data packet to the second switch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having a computer readable program stored therein, wherein the computer readable program, when executed on a computing device implementing a software defined network (SDN) controller, causes the computing device to:
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assign, by the SDN controller, each switch in the SDN a first color label, from a set of color labels, such that adjacent switches have different color labels; install, by the SDN controller, one or more rules in each switch to forward a received data packet to the SDN controller in response to a second color label of the received data packet not matching the first color label assigned to the switch; assign, by the SDN controller, a second color label, from the set of color labels, to a trace data packet; trace, by the SDN controller, a route of the trace data packet through the SDN based on the second color label and application of the one or more rules to the trace data packet at each of the switches in the SDN as the trace data packet is received by each of the switches in the SDN; receive, by the SDN controller, the trace data packet from a second switch in the SDN, to which the trace data packet was forwarded by a first switch in the SDN, in response to the one or more rules installed in the second switch indicating that the second color label of the trace data packet does not match a first color label assigned to the second switch; record, by the SDN controller, in a trace data structure, trace information extracted from the received trace data packet; update, by the SDN controller, the second color label of the trace data packet to be a color label matching the first color label assigned to the second switch to generate an updated trace data packet with an updated first color label; and forward, by the SDN controller, the updated trace data packet to the second switch. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus comprising:
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a processor; and a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory comprises instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to implement a software defined network (SDN) controller, and wherein the SDN controller implemented by the processor is configured to; assign each switch in the SDN a first color label, from a set of color labels, such that adjacent switches have different color labels; install one or more rules in each switch to forward a received data packet to the SDN controller in response to a second color label of the received data packet not matching the first color label assigned to the switch; assign a second color label, from the set of color labels, to a trace data packet; trace a route of the trace data packet through the SDN based on the second color label and application of the one or more rules to the trace data packet at each of the switches in the SDN as the trace data packet is received by each of the switches in the SDN; receive, by the SDN controller, the trace data packet from a second switch in the SDN, to which the trace data packet was forwarded by a first switch in the SDN, in response to the one or more rules installed in the second switch indicating that the second color label of the trace data packet does not match a first color label assigned to the second switch; record, by the SDN controller, in a trace data structure, trace information extracted from the received trace data packet; update, by the SDN controller, the second color label of the trace data packet to be a color label matching the first color label assigned to the second switch to generate an updated trace data packet with an updated first color label; and forward, by the SDN controller, the updated trace data packet to the second switch.
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Specification