Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for performing data traffic monitoring. The method processes a packet through a packet processing pipeline that includes multiple stages. At a filtering stage, the method tags the packet with a set of monitoring actions for subsequent stages to perform on the packet based on a determination that the packet matches a particular filter. For each stage of a set of packet processing stages subsequent to the filtering stage, the method (i) executes any monitoring actions specified for the stage to perform on the packet and (ii) sends the packet to a next stage in the packet processing pipeline.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for performing data traffic monitoring. The method processes a packet through a packet processing pipeline that includes multiple stages. At a filtering stage, the method tags the packet with a set of monitoring actions for subsequent stages to perform on the packet based on a determination that the packet matches a particular filter. For each stage of a set of packet processing stages subsequent to the filtering stage, the method (i) executes any monitoring actions specified for the stage to perform on the packet and (ii) sends the packet to a next stage in the packet processing pipeline.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for performing data traffic monitoring. For each packet processing stage of a set of packet processing stages in a packet processing pipeline, the method determines whether a packet received by the packet processing pipeline specifies a set of monitoring actions to be performed on the packet. When the packet specifies a set of monitoring action, the method determines whether the monitoring actions in the set are supported by the packet processing stage. The method executes the supported monitoring actions on the packet in addition to processing the packet according to configuration data for the stage.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method of aggregating and providing packet metrics collected during a live packet monitoring session performed for packets matching a specified set of characteristics. The method receives, from one or more computing devices that process packets during the live packet monitoring session, multiple metrics associated with a set of packets matching the specified set of characteristics. Metrics associated with each packet in the set are accompanied by a packet identifier (ID) used to tag the packet by an initial computing device that processed the packet. The method uses the accompanying packet IDs to aggregate the received plurality of metrics. The method provides (i) an aggregated set of session metrics for the set of packets matching the specified set of characteristics during the live packet monitoring session and (ii) individual packet metrics using the packet IDs for at least one packet in the set of packets.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method of aggregating and providing packet metrics collected during a live packet monitoring session performed for packets matching a specified set of characteristics. The method receives, from one or more computing devices that process packets during the live packet monitoring session, multiple metrics associated with a set of packets matching the specified set of characteristics. Metrics associated with each packet in the set are accompanied by a packet identifier (ID) used to tag the packet by an initial computing device that processed the packet. The method uses the accompanying packet IDs to aggregate the received plurality of metrics. The method provides (i) an aggregated set of session metrics for the set of packets matching the specified set of characteristics during the live packet monitoring session and (ii) individual packet metrics using the packet IDs for at least one packet in the set of packets.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for performing data traffic monitoring. For each packet processing stage of a set of packet processing stages in a packet processing pipeline, the method determines whether a packet received by the packet processing pipeline specifies a set of monitoring actions to be performed on the packet. When the packet specifies a set of monitoring action, the method determines whether the monitoring actions in the set are supported by the packet processing stage. The method executes the supported monitoring actions on the packet in addition to processing the packet according to configuration data for the stage.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for performing data traffic monitoring. The method processes a packet through a packet processing pipeline that includes multiple stages. At a filtering stage, the method tags the packet with a set of monitoring actions for subsequent stages to perform on the packet based on a determination that the packet matches a particular filter. For each stage of a set of packet processing stages subsequent to the filtering stage, the method (i) executes any monitoring actions specified for the stage to perform on the packet and (ii) sends the packet to a next stage in the packet processing pipeline.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for providing a continuous mirroring session between a monitored data compute node (DCN) and a monitoring DCN. The method provides such uninterrupted mirroring session regardless of relocations of the DCNs during the mirroring session. In some embodiments, the method dynamically switches between local mirroring and remote mirroring based on the positions of the monitored DCN and the monitoring DCN. Upon receiving a data message from a port of a forwarding element (i.e., a monitored port), to which a monitored DCN is coupled, the method duplicates the data message. The method then sends the duplicated data message either to a monitoring DCN that executes on the same host machine, or adds particular tunneling data to the duplicated data message and tunnels the duplicated data message to a remote host machine, on which the monitoring DCN executes.

Abstract: A method of mirroring packets in a network. The method assigns an Internet protocol (IP) multicast address to an overlay network for transmitting mirrored packets. The method connects a set of monitoring data compute nodes (DCNs) to the overlay network for receiving the mirrored packets. The method adds the monitoring DCNs to an IP multicast group for the overlay network. The method associates a port of a mirrored DCN to the overlay network for packet mirroring. The method duplicates each packet received or transmitted at the port as a mirrored packet. The method encapsulates each mirrored packet with the IP multicast address of the overlay network. The method transmits each encapsulated packet on the overlay network.

Abstract: A method of creating containers in a physical host that includes a managed forwarding element (MFE) configured to forward packets to and from a set of data compute nodes (DCNs) hosted by the physical host. The method creates a container DCN in the host. The container DCN includes a virtual network interface card (VNIC) configured to exchange packets with the MFE. The method creates a plurality of containers in the container DCN. The method, for each container in the container DCN, creates a corresponding port on the MFE. The method sends packets addressed to each of the plurality of containers from the corresponding MFE port to the VNIC of the container DCN.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to introduction of a physical switch port and logical switch port to the virtualization layer. A virtual network interface card (VNIC) can be associated with a physical switch port that routes traffic to logical switch ports based on a transmit function. The logical switch ports each are associated with a filtering protocol and route traffic to a physical switch port based on a receive function associated with that logical switch port. The logical switch ports can be associated with container running on the virtual machine (VM) connected to the VNIC. Thus, a single VNIC can be shared by multiple containers running different filtering protocols. A single logical port can also route traffic to multiple physical switch ports, each associated with a different VNIC. Thus, a same filtering protocol can be shared by multiple VNICs.

Abstract: A method of creating containers in a physical host that includes a managed forwarding element (MFE) configured to forward packets to and from a set of data compute nodes (DCNs) hosted by the physical host. The method creates a container DCN in the host. The container DCN includes a virtual network interface card (VNIC) configured to exchange packets with the MFE. The method creates a plurality of containers in the container DCN. The method, for each container in the container DCN, creates a corresponding port on the MFE. The method sends packets addressed to each of the plurality of containers from the corresponding MFE port to the VNIC of the container DCN.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to introduction of a physical switch port and logical switch port to the virtualization layer. A virtual network interface card (VNIC) can be associated with a physical switch port that routes traffic to logical switch ports based on a transmit function. The logical switch ports each are associated with a filtering protocol and route traffic to a physical switch port based on a receive function associated with that logical switch port. The logical switch ports can be associated with container running on the virtual machine (VM) connected to the VNIC. Thus, a single VNIC can be shared by multiple containers running different filtering protocols. A single logical port can also route traffic to multiple physical switch ports, each associated with a different VNIC. Thus, a same filtering protocol can be shared by multiple VNICs.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for providing a continuous mirroring session between a monitored data compute node (DCN) and a monitoring DCN. The method provides such uninterrupted mirroring session regardless of relocations of the DCNs during the mirroring session. In some embodiments, the method dynamically switches between local mirroring and remote mirroring based on the positions of the monitored DCN and the monitoring DCN. Upon receiving a data message from a port of a forwarding element (i.e., a monitored port), to which a monitored DCN is coupled, the method duplicates the data message. The method then sends the duplicated data message either to a monitoring DCN that executes on the same host machine, or adds particular tunneling data to the duplicated data message and tunnels the duplicated data message to a remote host machine, on which the monitoring DCN executes.

Abstract: A method of mirroring packets in a network. The method assigns an Internet protocol (IP) multicast address to an overlay network for transmitting mirrored packets. The method connects a set of monitoring data compute nodes (DCNs) to the overlay network for receiving the mirrored packets. The method adds the monitoring DCNs to an IP multicast group for the overlay network. The method associates a port of a mirrored DCN to the overlay network for packet mirroring. The method duplicates each packet received or transmitted at the port as a mirrored packet. The method encapsulates each mirrored packet with the IP multicast address of the overlay network. The method transmits each encapsulated packet on the overlay network.

Abstract: A method of creating containers in a physical host that includes a managed forwarding element (MFE) configured to forward packets to and from a set of data compute nodes (DCNs) hosted by the physical host. The method creates a container DCN in the host. The container DCN includes a virtual network interface card (VNIC) configured to exchange packets with the MFE. The method creates a plurality of containers in the container DCN. The method, for each container in the container DCN, creates a corresponding port on the MFE. The method sends packets addressed to each of the plurality of containers from the corresponding MFE port to the VNIC of the container DCN.

Abstract: Embodiments perform end-to-end virtual network flow monitoring in a virtual datacenter and provide differentiated views to users based on user role. A target flow pattern describing data packets of interest is distributed to a plurality of applications managing VMs in the virtual datacenter, such as hosts, virtual gateways, and other virtual network applications. Each of the applications monitors data packets routed by the application by comparing the data packets to the flow pattern and selectively collecting context data describing the data packets. The context data collected by the applications is aggregated at a remote server for analysis and reporting.

Abstract: Embodiments perform end-to-end virtual network flow monitoring in a virtual datacenter and provide differentiated views to users based on user role. A target flow pattern describing data packets of interest is distributed to a plurality of applications managing VMs in the virtual datacenter, such as hosts, virtual gateways, and other virtual network applications. Each of the applications monitors data packets routed by the application by comparing the data packets to the flow pattern and selectively collecting context data describing the data packets. The context data collected by the applications is aggregated at a remote server for analysis and reporting.