Abstract: In some embodiments, a method determines when a packet is fragmented into multiple fragmented packets in a flow between a first workload and a second workload. The method switches from generating an outer source port in the outer header using layer 4 information from the inner header to using layer 3 information from the inner header. A fragmented packet is encapsulated with the outer header that includes an outer source port value that is generated using the layer 3 information. The method initiates a process to determine when to switch back to using layer 4 information from the inner header to generate the outer source port. When it is determined to switch back to using layer 4 information, the method switches back to using layer 4 information from the inner header to generate the source port in the outer header of a packet from the first workload.

Abstract: Example methods are provided for a first host to maintain data-plane connectivity with a second host via a third host in a virtualized computing environment. The method may comprise identifying an intermediate host, being the third host, having data-plane connectivity with both the first host and the second host. The method may also comprise: in response to detecting, from a first virtualized computing instance supported by the first host, an egress packet that includes an inner header addressed to a second virtualized computing instance supported by the second host, generating an encapsulated packet by encapsulating the egress packet with an outer header that is addressed from the first host to the third host instead of the second host; and sending the encapsulated packet to the third host for subsequent forwarding to the second host.

Abstract: A novel method for performing replication of messages in a network that bridges one or more physical networks to an overlay logical network is provided. A physical gateway provides bridging between network nodes of a physical network and virtual machines in the overlay logical network by serving as an endpoint of the overlay logical network. The physical gateway does not replicate messages from the bridged physical network to destination endpoints in the overlay logical network directly, but instead tunnels the message-to-be-replicated to a designated tunnel endpoint in the overlay logical network. The designated tunnel endpoint in turn replicates the message that was tunneled to it to other endpoints in the overlay logical network.

Abstract: A novel method for performing replication of messages in a network that bridges one or more physical networks to an overlay logical network is provided. A physical gateway provides bridging between network nodes of a physical network and virtual machines in the overlay logical network by serving as an endpoint of the overlay logical network. The physical gateway does not replicate messages from the bridged physical network to destination endpoints in the overlay logical network directly, but instead tunnels the message-to-be-replicated to a designated tunnel endpoint in the overlay logical network. The designated tunnel endpoint in turn replicates the message that was tunneled to it to other endpoints in the overlay logical network.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for configuring a set of MFEs to implement a distributed multicast logical router and multiple logical switches to process the multicast data messages. The method sends, from a managed forwarding element (MFE) implementing the distributed multicast logical router, a multicast group query to a set of data compute nodes (DCNs) that are logically connected to one of several logical switches and that execute on the same host machine as the managed forwarding element. The method receives multicast group reports from a subset of the set of DCNs and at least one of the multicast group reports specifies a multicast group of interest. The method distributes, to a set of MFEs executing on other host machines, a summarized multicast group report specifying a set of multicast groups of interest to the first MFE (i.e., multicast groups that the first MFE participates in).

Abstract: Example methods are provided for a host to perform multicast packet handling a software-defined networking (SDN) environment. One example method may comprise: in response to detecting, from a virtualized computing instance supported by the host, a request to join a first inner multicast group address, obtaining an outer multicast group address that is assigned to the first inner multicast group address and one or more second inner multicast group addresses; and generating and sending a request to join the outer multicast group address to one or more multicast-enabled network devices. In response to detecting an ingress encapsulated multicast packet that includes an outer header addressed to the outer multicast group address and an inner header addressed to the first inner multicast group address, the host may generate and send a decapsulated multicast packet to the virtualized computing instance that has joined the first inner multicast group address.

Abstract: For a managed network implementing at least one logical router having centralized and distributed components, some embodiments provide a method for configuring a managed forwarding element (MFE) executing on a first host machine to implement a distributed multicast logical router and multiple logical switches logically connected to the logical router in conjunction with a set of additional MFEs executing on additional host machines to process multicast data messages. The method receives a multicast group report from a data compute node (DCN) that executes on the first host, sends a summarized multicast group report indicating multicast groups joined by DCNs executing on the first host to a set of central controllers, receives data based on an aggregated multicast group report from the set of central controllers, and uses the data based on the aggregated multicast group report to configure the MFE to implement the distributed multicast logical router.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method of replicating messages for a logical network. At a particular tunnel endpoint in a particular datacenter, the method receives a message to be replicated to members of a replication group. The method replicates the message to a set of tunnel endpoints of the replication group located in a same segment of the particular datacenter as the particular tunnel endpoint. The method replicates the message to a first set of proxy endpoints of the replication group, each of which is located in a different segment of the particular datacenter and for replicating the message to tunnel endpoints located in its respective segment of the particular datacenter. The method replicates the message to a second set of proxy endpoints of the replication group, each of which is located in a different datacenter and for replicating the message to tunnel endpoints located in its respective datacenter.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for configuring a set of MFEs to implement a distributed multicast logical router and multiple logical switches to process the multicast data messages. The method sends, from a managed forwarding element (MFE) implementing the distributed multicast logical router, a multicast group query to a set of data compute nodes (DCNs) that are logically connected to one of several logical switches and that execute on the same host machine as the managed forwarding element. The method receives multicast group reports from a subset of the set of DCNs and at least one of the multicast group reports specifies a multicast group of interest. The method distributes, to a set of MFEs executing on other host machines, a summarized multicast group report specifying a set of multicast groups of interest to the first MFE (i.e., multicast groups that the first MFE participates in).

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to applying global unified security policies across a plurality of virtual private clouds of a logical network. The logical network is deployed on a software-defined datacenter that constitute one or more private and/or public datacenters. The plurality of virtual private clouds of the logical network may have one or more overlapping internet protocol address blocks, with each virtual private cloud deploying one or more virtual machines and/or containers. A global unified security policy is disseminated to endpoints throughout the logical network using logical ports of the virtual machines and/or containers.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for a managed forwarding element (MFE). At the MFE, the method receives a first packet from a particular tunnel endpoint. The first packet originates from a particular data compute node associated with multiple tunnel endpoints including the particular tunnel endpoint. Based on the first packet, the method stores an association of the particular tunnel endpoint with the particular data compute node. The method uses the stored association to encapsulate subsequent packets received at the MFE and having the particular data compute node as a destination address with the particular tunnel endpoint as a destination tunnel endpoint.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method of replicating messages for a logical network. At a particular tunnel endpoint in a particular datacenter, the method receives a message to be replicated to members of a replication group. The method replicates the message to a set of tunnel endpoints of the replication group located in a same segment of the particular datacenter as the particular tunnel endpoint. The method replicates the message to a first set of proxy endpoints of the replication group, each of which is located in a different segment of the particular datacenter and for replicating the message to tunnel endpoints located in its respective segment of the particular datacenter. The method replicates the message to a second set of proxy endpoints of the replication group, each of which is located in a different datacenter and for replicating the message to tunnel endpoints located in its respective datacenter.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for connecting a host machine to a management and control system (MCS) logical network. The method of some embodiments receives, at a managed forwarding element of the host machine, data that identifies a bootstrap agent. The method of some such embodiments receives this data once the host machine is booted up. The method connects to the agent to receive configuration data for the MCS logical network from the agent. The method uses the configuration data received from the agent to connect to the MCS logical network. After connecting to the MCS logical network, the method receives the necessary configuration data for at least one additional logical network (e.g., a guest logical network) from a set of control machines that is also connected to the MCS logical network.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for a managed forwarding element (MFE). At the MFE, the method receives a first packet from a particular tunnel endpoint. The first packet originates from a particular data compute node associated with multiple tunnel endpoints including the particular tunnel endpoint. Based on the first packet, the method stores an association of the particular tunnel endpoint with the particular data compute node. The method uses the stored association to encapsulate subsequent packets received at the MFE and having the particular data compute node as a destination address with the particular tunnel endpoint as a destination tunnel endpoint.

Abstract: Example methods are provided for a first host to perform address resolution suppression in a logical network. The first host may support a first virtualized computing instance located on the logical network and a first hypervisor. The method may comprise the first hypervisor broadcasting a notification message within the logical network to trigger one or more control messages, and learning protocol-to-hardware address mapping information associated with multiple second virtualized computing instances located on the logical network based on the one or more control messages. The method may also comprise: in response to the first hypervisor detecting an address resolution request message that includes a protocol address associated with one of the multiple second virtualized computing instances, the first hypervisor generating and sending an address resolution response message to a first virtualized computing instance without broadcasting the address resolution request message on the logical network.

Abstract: The disclosure provides an approach for reducing multicast traffic within a network by optimizing placement of virtual machines within subnets and within hosts, and by optimizing mapping of overlay multicast groups to underlay multicast groups. In one embodiment, substantially all VMs of a multicast group are migrated to the same subnet of the network. Thereafter or independently, VMs in the same subnet are migrated to the same host, ideally to the subnet proxy endpoint of that subnet. In the same or in another embodiment, if multiple overlay groups map to the same underlay group, one or more of the overlay groups may be remapped to a separate underlay group to improve network performance.

Abstract: A novel method of conducting multicast traffic in a network is provided. The network includes multiple endpoints that receive messages from the network and generate messages for the network. The endpoints are located in different segments of the network, each segment including one or more of the endpoints. For a source endpoint to replicate a particular message (e.g., a data packet) for all endpoints belonging to a particular replication group (i.e., multicast group) within the network, the source endpoint replicates the particular message to each endpoint within the source endpoint's own segment and to a proxy endpoint in each of the other segments. Each proxy endpoint in turn replicates the particular message to all endpoints belonging to the particular replication group within the proxy endpoint's own segment.

Abstract: Example methods are provided for a first host to restore control-plane connectivity with a network management entity. The method may comprise: detecting a loss of control-plane connectivity between the first host and the network management entity; and determining connectivity status information associated with one or more second hosts. The method may also comprise, based on the connectivity status information, selecting, from the one or more second hosts, a proxy host having data-plane connectivity with the first host and control-plane connectivity with the network management entity. The method may further comprise restoring control-plane connectivity between the first host with the network management entity via the proxy host such that the first host is able to send control information to, or receive control information from, the network management entity via the proxy host.

Abstract: The disclosure provides an approach for reducing multicast traffic within a network by optimizing placement of virtual machines within subnets and within hosts, and by optimizing mapping of overlay multicast groups to underlay multicast groups. In one embodiment, substantially all VMs of a multicast group are migrated to the same subnet of the network. Thereafter or independently, VMs in the same subnet are migrated to the same host, ideally to the subnet proxy endpoint of that subnet. In the same or in another embodiment, if multiple overlay groups map to the same underlay group, one or more of the overlay groups may be remapped to a separate underlay group to improve network performance.

Abstract: Example methods are provided for a host to perform multicast packet handling a software-defined networking (SDN) environment. One example method may comprise: in response to detecting, from a virtualized computing instance supported by the host, a request to join a first inner multicast group address, obtaining an outer multicast group address that is assigned to the first inner multicast group address and one or more second inner multicast group addresses; and generating and sending a request to join the outer multicast group address to one or more multicast-enabled network devices. In response to detecting an ingress encapsulated multicast packet that includes an outer header addressed to the outer multicast group address and an inner header addressed to the first inner multicast group address, the host may generate and send a decapsulated multicast packet to the virtualized computing instance that has joined the first inner multicast group address.