Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for network association to virtualize network devices using device passthrough. In some examples, a system can determine one or more respective configuration parameters associated with one or more network interfaces on the system. Based on the networking information, the system can map the one or more respective configuration parameters to each corresponding network interface from the one or more network interfaces, to yield mapped interfaces-parameters. Next, the system can record the mapped interfaces-parameters to a data object accessible by a virtual machine on the system. The system can then configure the virtual machine to process the mapped interfaces-parameters as boot time parameters while spawning and launch the virtual machine based on the mapped interfaces-parameters.

Abstract: Method for assisting load-balancing of subscriber sessions in a distributed mobile gateway (e.g. PGW, SGW, ePDG, or TWAG) comprising a plurality of distributed gateway instances (DGIs) is disclosed. Method includes receiving an advertisement of GTP fully qualified tunnel endpoints identifications (F-TEIDs) allocated to a first plurality of subscriber sessions, the sessions assigned to a first DGI of the DGIs. The advertisement indicates the first DGI as a recipient for data provided to the gateway and related to any of the first plurality of sessions. Method further includes storing an association between the GTP F-TEIDs of the advertisement and the first DGI, receiving a packet comprising data related to a subscriber session of the first plurality of sessions, identifying a F-TEID for the data of the received packet, identifying from stored association, that the F-TEID is associated with the first DGI, and forwarding data of the packet to the first DGI.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving at a network element a packet associated with a flow and determining whether a flow cache of the network element includes an entry for the flow indicating a classification for the flow. The method further includes, if the network element flow cache does not include an entry for the flow, punting the packet over a default path to a classifying service function, in which the classifying service function classifies the flow and determines a control plane service function for handling the flow, and receiving from the classifying service function a service path identifier (“SPI”) of a service path leading to the determined control plane service function. The flow is subsequently offloaded from the classifying service function to the network element.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for network association to virtualize network devices using device passthrough. In some examples, a system can determine one or more respective configuration parameters associated with one or more network interfaces on the system. Based on the networking information, the system can map the one or more respective configuration parameters to each corresponding network interface from the one or more network interfaces, to yield mapped interfaces-parameters. Next, the system can record the mapped interfaces-parameters to a data object accessible by a virtual machine on the system. The system can then configure the virtual machine to process the mapped interfaces-parameters as boot time parameters while spawning and launch the virtual machine based on the mapped interfaces-parameters.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving at a network element a packet associated with a flow and determining whether a flow cache of the network element includes an entry for the flow indicating a classification for the flow. The method further includes, if the network element flow cache does not include an entry for the flow, punting the packet over a default path to a classifying service function, in which the classifying service function classifies the flow and determines a control plane service function for handling the flow, and receiving from the classifying service function a service path identifier (“SPI”) of a service path leading to the determined control plane service function. The flow is subsequently offloaded from the classifying service function to the network element.

Abstract: Method for assisting load-balancing of subscriber sessions in a distributed mobile gateway (e.g. PGW, SGW, ePDG, or TWAG) comprising a plurality of distributed gateway instances (DGIs) is disclosed. Method includes receiving an advertisement of GTP fully qualified tunnel endpoints identifications (F-TEIDs) allocated to a first plurality of subscriber sessions, the sessions assigned to a first DGI of the DGIs. The advertisement indicates the first DGI as a recipient for data provided to the gateway and related to any of the first plurality of sessions. Method further includes storing an association between the GTP F-TEIDs of the advertisement and the first DGI, receiving a packet comprising data related to a subscriber session of the first plurality of sessions, identifying a F-TEID for the data of the received packet, identifying from stored association, that the F-TEID is associated with the first DGI, and forwarding data of the packet to the first DGI.

Abstract: A method for handling access requests at multiple PoPs using the sharing of NAS information between the PoPs, enabling each PoP to maintain its own, independent, database of user records. When an access request is received, it is forwarded to a specific PoP designated as the user's “home PoP”. This home PoP is the only PoP to contain the user's records. The home PoP may then handle the access request by utilizing a local NAS list, the local NAS list being synchronized with other NAS lists in the network and providing information on all the “known” NASes throughout the entire network. This allows for a user to roam between PoPs, while reducing the bandwidth and security concerns that have existed in the past when users chose to roam. The NAS lists may then be updated via a central Network Control Console.

Abstract: A method for handling access requests at multiple PoPs using the sharing of NAS information between the PoPs, enabling each PoP to maintain its own, independent, database of user records. When an access request is received, it is forwarded to a specific PoP designated as the user's “home PoP”. This home PoP is the only PoP to contain the user's records. The home PoP may then handle the access request by utilizing a local NAS list, the local NAS list being synchronized with other NAS lists in the network and providing information on all the “known” NASes throughout the entire network. This allows for a user to roam between PoPs, while reducing the bandwidth and security concerns that have existed in the past when users chose to roam. The NAS lists may then be updated via a central Network Control Console.