Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to systems and methods that help a user manage a functional product. Every functional product, be it a service, device, or combination thereof, has one or more documents associated with it. These documents may include such documentation as: (1) Release Notes; (2) Configuration Guides; (3) command line interfaces (CLIs)/application program interfaces (APIs); (4) Data Sheets; (5) Installation Guides; (6) User Manuals; (7) Errata notices; and (8) other documentation. In embodiments, command extracted from the documents along with features available in the functional product and user history (if any) may be used to help suggest one or more commands for a user managing or using the functional product.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention include an n-node link aggregation group (LAG) system comprising a set of N nodes collectively provide a logical fabric-level view that is consistent across the set of N nodes. Embodiments of the n-node system comprise a control plane mechanism to provide Layer 2 multipathing between access network devices and the core network. The n-node system provides a loop-free topology with active-active load-sharing of uplinks from access to the core.

Abstract: A programmable data plane hardware load balancing system includes a plurality of server devices and an edge networking device that is located on an edge of a local area network. The edge networking device includes programmable data plane hardware that integrates each of at least one communications port, a server device table, and a load balancing engine. The at least one communications port is coupled to the plurality of server devices. The server device table includes health information about the plurality of server devices. The load balancing engine is configured to receive traffic directed to the plurality of server devices through the at least one communication port, and has been programmed to forward the traffic to one of the plurality of server devices in response to performing health based load balancing on the traffic using the health information about the plurality of server devices in the server device table.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention include extending routing capabilities to improve networking efficiencies. In embodiments, a spine-leaf network configuration may be provisioned as a single router to solve at least two issues: (1) local routing within a leaf; and (2) scalability of the hardware ARP table. In embodiments, one or more tables in the leaf node may be programmed so that data traffic coming from a first host in a first subnet or VLAN on the leaf and intended for a second host in a second subnet or VLAN on the leaf may be forwarded locally to the second host in the second subnet or VLAN without traversing to the spine layer.

Abstract: A multiple persistent load balancer system includes a routing sub-network having a plurality of routing sub-network nodes that are coupled to a plurality of load balancer devices. A controller provides a common routing algorithm and a destination distribution list to each of the routing sub-network nodes and the load balancer devices. A first persistent load balancer device receives a first data flow from at least one of the routing sub-network nodes, and uses the common routing algorithm and the destination distribution list to determine whether the first data flow should be redirected to a second persistent load balancer device. If not, the first persistent load balancer device processes the first data flow to retrieve a resource from a server. If so, the first persistent load balancer device forwards the first data flow through at least one of the sub-network nodes to the second persistent load balancer device.

Abstract: A LAN includes a CORE switch, some number of TOR switches, each linked to the CORE switch, and each of the TOR switches are linked directly to some number of host devices. Each of the switches in the LAN operate to process and transmit data frames they receive from neighboring LAN devices. Each TOR switch in the LAN builds and maintains a layer-2 forwarding table that is comprised of MAC address information learned from frames they receive from neighboring LAN devices. Selected ports/VLAN s on some or all of the TOR devices are designated to be CORE/switch facing ports (CFP) or host facing ports (HFP). Each of the CFPs are configured to only learn the MAC address in unicast frames it receives and each of the HFPs can be configured to learn the MAC address of both unicast and multicast data frames provided the destination MAC address included in the unicast frame is known.

Abstract: In non-minimal routing, a switch determines outgoing links for preferred paths (e.g. shortest paths). Then, for another node in a preferred path, the switch determines outgoing links for paths to that node in a modified network in which each link in a previously determined path to the node is cut off. Packets can be tunneled on non-preferred paths to that node. Other features and embodiments are also provided.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention include increasing the number of hops that can be specifically defined in a multiprotocol label switching stack. In embodiments of the present invention, a label space can be used to represent two or more labels. In embodiments of the present invention, the label space can be used by concatenating two or more labels and redefining the multiprotocol label switching stack operations and outgoing labels.

Abstract: An information handling system is provided. The information handling system includes a first hypervisor running on a first server and a second hypervisor running on a second server. The first hypervisor manages a first virtual switch and has an overlay forwarding table in memory supporting at least one virtual machine, while the second hypervisor manages a second virtual switch and also has the overlay forwarding table in memory and supports at least one other VM. The information handling system further includes a plurality of gateway devices coupled to the hypervisors. The gateway devices share a floating address and are configured to export a host route, associated with the address, into a corresponding entry in an underlay routing table to redirect network traffic from a first gateway device to a second gateway device.

Abstract: A network device such as a router or a switch is comprised of a control module and a plurality of physical line cards. The control module includes a control processor virtual machine, a plurality of route processing virtual machines and one or more instances of a line card virtual machine. The line card virtual machine operates to receive routing information base update information, to modify the routing information base according to the update information and to update each instance of a plurality of forwarding information bases included on each of the physical line cards.

Abstract: An information handling system is provided. The information handling system includes systems and methods for expanding the port count in a single Fibre Channel domain by adding modular Fibre Channel switches. Such a system includes a system enclosure that contains a plurality of Fibre Channel modules configured to send and receive Fibre Channel packets, the Fibre Channel modules providing a plurality of Fibre Channel ports and a switch processor coupled to the plurality of Fibre Channel ports and to a plurality of Ethernet ports. The switch processor is configured to apply a stacking header to Fibre Channel packets for transmission from one of the plurality of Ethernet ports over a stacking link to another switch processor in another system enclosure.

Abstract: A data switching system is disclosed that allows for switching of packets through a plurality of top of rack switches utilizing a logical switching fabric that includes a local TOR switching fabric on a TOR switch and a Core switching fabric on a Core switch. A method of processing packets according to some embodiment can include receiving a packet from a source port into a top of rack switch, the source port being one of a plurality of ports on the top of rack switch, processing a packet header of the packet to determine a destination port; and switching the packet through a logical switching fabric that includes a local switch fabric on the top of rack switch and a Core switching fabric on a Core switch.

Abstract: An information handling system is provided. The information handling system includes a first hypervisor running on a first host and a second hypervisor running on a second host. The first hypervisor managing a first virtual switch, and the second hypervisor managing a second virtual switch. The information handling system also includes a plurality of virtual machines (VMs), including a first VM, which is part of a first tenant, running on the first host, and a second VM, part of a second tenant, running on the second host. The first virtual switch has a mapping in memory that maps a customer-specific multicast IP address, used by the plurality of VMs to indicate a multicast group that includes VMs on the first and second tenants, to a global multicast IP address used by the first and second hosts.

Abstract: In non-minimal routing, a switch determines outgoing links for preferred paths (e.g. shortest paths). Then, for another node in a preferred path, the switch determines outgoing links for paths to that node in a modified network in which each link in a previously determined path to the node is cut off. Packets can be tunneled on non-preferred paths to that node. Other features and embodiments are also provided.

Abstract: A network device such as a router or a switch is comprised of a control module and a plurality of physical line cards. The control module includes a control processor virtual machine, a plurality of route processing virtual machines and one or more instances of a line card virtual machine. The line card virtual machine operates to receive routing information base update information, to modify the routing information base according to the update information and to update each instance of a plurality of forwarding information bases included on each of the physical line cards.

Abstract: An extended bridge structure that includes a controlling bridge and port extenders is disclosed. A port extender according to some embodiments of the present invention includes a processor that processes receives packets in a way that executes at least one procedure that substitutes for a function of the controlling bridge. A controlling bridge according to the present invention provides data to the port extender that enables it to execute the at least one procedure that substitutes for a function of the controlling bridge.

Abstract: A system and method for efficiently handling mobility events includes detecting a mobility event associated with a movement of a mobile unit from a first subnet to a second subnet, forming one or more first flow control messages for updating routing information associated with the mobility event, transmitting the one or more first flow control messages to a core router, forming one or more second flow control messages for disabling layer 2 learning, transmitting the one or more second flow control messages to one or more network switching devices in the first subnet, forming one or more third flow control messages including layer 2 switching instructions for directing network traffic to the mobile unit in the second subnet, and transmitting the one or more third flow control messages.

Abstract: An information handling system is provided. The information handling system includes systems and methods for expanding the port count in a single Fiber Channel domain by adding modular Fiber Channel switches. Such a system includes a system enclosure that contains a plurality of Fiber Channel modules configured to send and receive Fiber Channel packets, the Fiber Channel modules providing a plurality of Fiber Channel ports and a switch processor coupled to the plurality of Fiber Channel ports and to a plurality of Ethernet ports. The switch processor is configured to apply a stacking header to Fiber Channel packets for transmission from one of the plurality of Ethernet ports over a stacking link to another switch processor in another system enclosure.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention include an n-node link aggregation group (LAG) system comprising a set of N nodes collectively provide a logical fabric-level view that is consistent across the set of N nodes. Embodiments of the n-node system comprise a control plane mechanism to provide Layer 2 multipathing between access network devices and the core network. The n-node system provides a loop-free topology with active-active load-sharing of uplinks from access to the core.

Abstract: An information handling system is provided. The information handling system includes a first hypervisor running on a first host and a second hypervisor running on a second host. The first hypervisor managing a first virtual switch, and the second hypervisor managing a second virtual switch. The information handling system also includes a plurality of virtual machines (VMs), including a first VM, which is part of a first tenant, running on the first host, and a second VM, part of a second tenant, running on the second host. The first virtual switch has a mapping in memory that maps a customer-specific multicast IP address, used by the plurality of VMs to indicate a multicast group that includes VMs on the first and second tenants, to a global multicast IP address used by the first and second hosts.