Abstract: Each switch in a network maintains a forwarding database table in which each record identifies a media access control (MAC) address, a port identifier, and a source identifier. A frame is received from a first network device at a first port of a first switch, wherein the frame includes a MAC address of the first network device. The first switch prepares a synchronization packet including the MAC address, a port identifier identifying the first port, a source identifier identifying the first switch and an instruction, in response to determining that the MAC address is not associated with the first switch in the first forwarding database table. The synchronization packet is sent to each other switch, and the forwarding database tables of the other switches are modified to implement the instruction.

Abstract: Hardware of a network switching device supports quantized congestion notification (QCN) to notify senders of network packets received at the network switching device that the network switching device is experiencing congestion. The hardware is instead programmed to notify a processor of the network switching device of the congestion at an egress queue of the network switching device. The processor receives a congestion notification message (CNM) from the hardware that the hardware has detected the congestion at the egress queue. Responsive to receiving the CNM from the hardware, the processor detects a microburst of the network packets at the egress queue of the network switching device.

Abstract: Each switch in a network maintains a forwarding database table in which each record identifies a media access control (MAC) address, a port identifier, and a source identifier. A frame is received from a first network device at a first port of a first switch, wherein the frame includes a MAC address of the first network device. The first switch prepares a synchronization packet including the MAC address, a port identifier identifying the first port, a source identifier identifying the first switch and an instruction, in response to determining that the MAC address is not associated with the first switch in the first forwarding database table. The synchronization packet is sent to each other switch, and the forwarding database tables of the other switches are modified to implement the instruction.

Abstract: A method includes each switch in a network maintaining a forwarding database table in which each record identifies a media access control (MAC) address, a port identifier, and a source identifier. A frame is received from a first network device at a first port of a first switch, wherein the frame includes a MAC address of the first network device. The first switch prepares a synchronization packet including the MAC address, a port identifier identifying the first port, a source identifier identifying the first switch and an instruction, in response to determining that the MAC address is not associated with the first switch in the first forwarding database table. The synchronization packet is sent to each other switch, and the forwarding database tables of the other switches are modified to implement the instruction.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, program product, and system are disclosed for seamless connection handshake for a reliable multicast session. A node module detects a new node attempting to join a multicast networking session. A handshake module generates a control packet comprising session initiation data for the new node. A packet module creates a combined data packet comprising the control packet and the multicast data packet and sends the combined data packet to the new node. The node module joins the new node to the ongoing multicast networking session without disturbing ongoing data transmissions during the multicast networking session.

Abstract: A method allows each individual node in the multi-node computing system to detect the topology of the computing system. Each individual node detects its own connections with neighboring nodes directly connected to the individual node, and sends out a topology packet on all of its interfaces with a local topology change indicator that increments with each topology packet sent out. Each individual node stores their own topology table with an entry for each node from which it has received a topology packet, including the local topology change number which enables the node to determine whether a received topology packet is more recent than data already stored in the topology table. Each node updates its topology table with new topology data, forwards new topology data, and sends back acknowledgements to a source node only upon receiving acknowledgements from all other nodes.

Abstract: A method includes a local electronic device submitting a request to a service provider server for delivery of specific content to the local electronic device, the local electronic device receiving a reply from the service provider server identifying a plurality of content servers that can each deliver the requested content over a network, and the local electronic device determining local context parameters about its network connection with each of the identified content servers. The local electronic device may then select one of the content servers from which to receive the requested content, wherein the selected content server is associated with a local context parameter indicating that the local electronic device has a better network connection with the selected content server than with any of the other identified content servers. The local electronic device may then download the requested content from the selected content server.

Abstract: Networking systems and, more particularly, processes of limiting MAC address information in a forwarding table in data center networking systems are provided. The method includes limiting MAC address information in a forwarding table in leaf switches of a local area networking system by learning, for each of the leaf switches, only MAC addresses from directly connected hosts.

Abstract: A method allows each individual node in the multi-node computing system to detect the topology of the computing system. Each individual node detects its own connections with neighboring nodes directly connected to the individual node, and sends out a topology packet on all of its interfaces with a local topology change indicator that increments with each topology packet sent out. Each individual node stores their own topology table with an entry for each node from which it has received a topology packet, including the local topology change number which enables the node to determine whether a received topology packet is more recent than data already stored in the topology table. Each node updates its topology table with new topology data, forwards new topology data, and sends back acknowledgements to a source node only upon receiving acknowledgements from all other nodes.

Abstract: A system includes a multi-server chassis, a midplane within the chassis, and a switching device connected to the midplane. The switching device has serial communication lanes including a lane for each of multiple server bays within the chassis, and has a network communication port for connecting to an external network. The system further comprises servers, wherein each server is received in a server bay and has a serial communication interface connected to the midplane. The midplane includes serial communication pathways, wherein each serial communication pathway provides serial communication between the serial communication interface of one of the servers and one of the serial communication lanes of the switching device. The switching device converts messages to and from an external network so that a serial expansion bus standard is used over serial communication pathways in the midplane and a network communication standard is used over the external network.

Abstract: A method includes each switch in a network maintaining a forwarding database table in which each record identifies a media access control (MAC) address, a port identifier, and a source identifier. A frame is received from a first network device at a first port of a first switch, wherein the frame includes a MAC address of the first network device. The first switch prepares a synchronization packet including the MAC address, a port identifier identifying the first port, a source identifier identifying the first switch and an instruction, in response to determining that the MAC address is not associated with the first switch in the first forwarding database table. The synchronization packet is sent to each other switch, and the forwarding database tables of the other switches are modified to implement the instruction.

Abstract: Networking systems and, more particularly, processes of limiting MAC address information in a forwarding table in data center networking systems are provided. The method includes limiting MAC address information in a forwarding table in leaf switches of a local area networking system by learning, for each of the leaf switches, only MAC addresses from directly connected hosts.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, program product, and system are disclosed for seamless connection handshake for a reliable multicast session. A node module detects a new node attempting to join a multicast networking session. A handshake module generates a control packet comprising session initiation data for the new node. A packet module creates a combined data packet comprising the control packet and the multicast data packet and sends the combined data packet to the new node. The node module joins the new node to the ongoing multicast networking session without disturbing ongoing data transmissions during the multicast networking session.