Abstract: Techniques for detecting inactive peers of a tunneled communication session, while allowing for a scalable tunneled protocol that includes split control plane nodes and data plane nodes are described herein. A method according to a technique described herein may include establishing a communication session between a first node and a second node in a network such that control plane traffic of the communication session flows through one or more control nodes and data plane traffic of the communication session flows through one or more data nodes different than the one or more control nodes. The method may also include receiving, at a control node, an indication from a data node that a probe message is to be generated. The probe message may be configured to determine data plane connectivity in the communication session. Additionally, the control node may generate the probe message and send it to the first node.

Abstract: Techniques for using global virtual network instance (VNI) labels in a multi-domain network to route network data with a multi-tenant network overlay are described herein. A routing device provisioned in a network domain of the multi-domain network may register with a service discovery system of the network domain for use of network configuration data to establish routes through the multi-domain network with network nodes. Each network domain of the multi-domain network may include an application programming interface (API) server for processing API requests to make changes to configurations of a network domain. A border gateway protocol (BGP) large community may be utilized to encode global VNI labels, network addresses, local next hop nodes, and/or additional network information and sent to routing devices provisioned in separate network domains. A service chain may be signaled by global VNI labels to route network traffic through various services prior to reaching a destination endpoint.

Abstract: Techniques and mechanisms to reduce double encryption of packets that are transmitted using encrypted tunnels. The techniques described herein include determining that portions of the packets are already encrypted, identifying portions of the packets that are unencrypted, and selectively encrypting the portions of the packets that are unencrypted prior to transmission through the encrypted tunnel. In this way, potentially private or sensitive data in the packets that is unencrypted, such as information in the packet headers, will be encrypted using the encryption protocol of the encrypted tunnel, but the data of the packets that is already encrypted, such as the payload, may avoid unnecessary double encryption. By reducing (or eliminating) the amount of data in data packets that is double encrypted, the amount of time taken by computing devices, and computing resources consumed, to encrypted traffic for encrypted tunnels may be reduced.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for providing a distributed scalable architecture for Network Address Translation (NAT) systems with high availability and mitigations for flow breakage during failover events. The NAT servers may include functionality to serve as fast-path servers and/or slow-path servers. A fast-path server may include a NAT worker that includes a cache of NAT mappings to perform stateful network address translation and to forward packets with minimal latency. A slow-path server may include a mapping server that creates new NAT mappings, depreciates old ones, and answers NAT worker state requests. The NAT system may use virtual mapping servers (VMSs) running on primary physical servers with state duplicated VMSs on different physical failover servers.

Abstract: Techniques for routing service mesh traffic based on whether the traffic is encrypted or unencrypted are described herein. The techniques may include receiving, from a first node of a cloud-based network, traffic that is to be sent to a second node of the cloud-based network and determining whether the traffic is encrypted or unencrypted. If it is determined that the traffic is encrypted, the traffic may be sent to the second node via a service mesh of the cloud-based platform. Alternatively, or additionally, if it is determined that the traffic is unencrypted, the traffic may be sent to the second node via an encrypted tunnel. In some examples, the techniques may be performed at least partially by a program running on the first node of the cloud-based network, such as an extended Berkeley Packet Filter (eBPF) program, and the like.

Abstract: Techniques and mechanisms to reduce double encryption of packets that are transmitted using encrypted tunnels. The techniques described herein include determining that portions of the packets are already encrypted, identifying portions of the packets that are unencrypted, and selectively encrypting the portions of the packets that are unencrypted prior to transmission through the encrypted tunnel. In this way, potentially private or sensitive data in the packets that is unencrypted, such as information in the packet headers, will be encrypted using the encryption protocol of the encrypted tunnel, but the data of the packets that is already encrypted, such as the payload, may avoid unnecessary double encryption. By reducing (or eliminating) the amount of data in data packets that is double encrypted, the amount of time taken by computing devices, and computing resources consumed, to encrypted traffic for encrypted tunnels may be reduced.

Abstract: Techniques for using global virtual network instance (VNI) labels in a multi-domain network to route network data with a multi-tenant network overlay are described herein. A routing device provisioned in a network domain of the multi-domain network may register with a service discovery system of the network domain for use of network configuration data to establish routes through the multi-domain network with network nodes. Each network domain of the multi-domain network may include an application programming interface (API) server for processing API requests to make changes to configurations of a network domain. A border gateway protocol (BGP) large community may be utilized to encode global VNI labels, network addresses, local next hop nodes, and/or additional network information and sent to routing devices provisioned in separate network domains. A service chain may be signaled by global VNI labels to route network traffic through various services prior to reaching a destination endpoint.

Abstract: Techniques for multi-tenant overlays with per-tenant distributed routing are described herein. The techniques may include provisioning an overlay network such that tenants hosted by a forwarding plane of the overlay network are each configured to forward routing protocol packets to a routing control plane of the overlay network and the routing control plane of the overlay network is configured to determine routing paths between each tenant and respective destinations. A routing protocol packet may be sent to the routing control plane by a first tenant. The routing protocol packet may include an indication of a destination that is served by the first tenant. Based on receiving the routing protocol packet, the routing control plane may determine one or more routing paths between the tenants and the destination. Additionally, an indication of the routing path may be sent to the tenants.

Abstract: Techniques for using computer networking protocol extensions to route control-plane traffic and data-plane traffic associated with a common application are described herein. For instance, a traffic flow associated with an application may be established such that control-plane traffic is sent to a control-plane node associated with the application and data-plane traffic is sent to a data-plane node associated with the application. When a client device sends an authentication request to connect to the application, the control-plane node may send an indication of a hostname to be used by the client device to send data-plane traffic to the data-node. As such, when a packet including the hostname corresponding with the data-plane node is received, the packet may be forwarded to the data-plane node.

Abstract: Techniques for load balancing communication sessions in a networked computing environment are described herein. The techniques may include establishing a first communication session between a client device and a first computing resource of a networked computing environment. Additionally, the techniques may include storing, in a data store, data indicating that the first communication session is associated with the first computing resource. The techniques may further include receiving, at a second computing resource of the networked computing environment, traffic associated with a second communication session that was sent by the client device, and based at least in part on accessing the data stored in the data store, establishing a traffic redirect such that the traffic and additional traffic associated with the second communication session is sent from the second computing resource to the first computing resource.

Abstract: Techniques for scaling additional capacity for secure access solutions and other workloads of enterprise edge networks in and out of a cloud-computing network based on demand. The techniques may include determining that a capacity associated with a secure access node of an enterprise edge network meets or exceeds a threshold capacity. Based at least in part on the capacity meeting or exceeding the threshold capacity, the techniques may include causing a facsimile of the secure access node to be spun up on a cloud-computing network that is remote from the enterprise edge network. In this way, new connection requests received from client devices can be redirected to the facsimile of the secure access node. Additionally, or alternatively, one or more existing connections between client devices and the secure access node may be migrated to the facsimile of the secure access node in the cloud.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to managing network traffic in a cloud-based secure access service. In one aspect, a method includes determining, by a controller of a cloud-based secure access service, that data packets from a user device should be dropped, a plurality of user devices, including the user device, being remotely connected to the controller for access to the cloud-based secure access service; determining, by the controller, a type of remote connection through which the user device is connected to the controller, each type of remote connection having a corresponding communication prototype; and transmitting a message, by the controller, to the user device, over a control protocol corresponding to the type of remote connection through which the user device is connected to the controller, the message providing a signal to the user device to drop packets at the user device prior to sending the packets to the controller.

Abstract: Techniques for operationalizing workloads at edge network nodes, while maintaining centralized intent and policy controls. The techniques may include storing, in a cloud-computing network, a workload image that includes a function capability. The techniques may also include receiving, at the cloud-computing network, a networking policy associated with an enterprise network. Based at least in part on the networking policy, a determination may be made at the cloud-computing network that the function capability is to be operationalized on an edge device of the enterprise network. The techniques may also include sending the workload image to the edge device to be installed on the edge device to operationalize the function capability. In some examples, the function capability may be a security function capability (e.g., proxy, firewall, etc.), a routing function capability (e.g., network address translation, load balancing, etc.), or any other function capability.

Abstract: Techniques for binding communication flows to unique addresses and/or ports, and configuring networking devices internal to a network to apply policy without the need to further introspect a given stream. Further, by creating mappings of unique addresses and/or ports to flows, the network devices are able to enforce policy without needing to coordinate with an edge node of the network at which the communication session terminates. Further, the techniques may include providing an SDN controller with a mapping between a unique address/port and a network flow, determining flow-specific policy to enforce on the flow, and programming one or more network devices to enforce the flow-specific policy in the network using the unique address/port.

Abstract: Techniques for operationalizing workloads at edge network nodes, while maintaining centralized intent and policy controls. The techniques may include storing, in a cloud-computing network, a workload image that includes a function capability. The techniques may also include receiving, at the cloud-computing network, a networking policy associated with an enterprise network. Based at least in part on the networking policy, a determination may be made at the cloud-computing network that the function capability is to be operationalized on an edge device of the enterprise network. The techniques may also include sending the workload image to the edge device to be installed on the edge device to operationalize the function capability. In some examples, the function capability may be a security function capability (e.g., proxy, firewall, etc.), a routing function capability (e.g., network address translation, load balancing, etc.), or any other function capability.

Abstract: Techniques for binding communication flows to unique addresses and/or ports, and configuring networking devices internal to a network to apply policy without the need to further introspect a given stream. Further, by creating mappings of unique addresses and/or ports to flows, the network devices are able to enforce policy without needing to coordinate with an edge node of the network at which the communication session terminates. Further, the techniques may include providing an SDN controller with a mapping between a unique address/port and a network flow, determining flow-specific policy to enforce on the flow, and programming one or more network devices to enforce the flow-specific policy in the network using the unique address/port.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to network traffic management and load balancing at a cloud-based secure access service accessible to remotely connected user devices. In one example, a cloud-based secure service system includes a network controller configured to receive network traffic from one or more user devices remotely connected to the controller; parse the network traffic into flow data and contextual information associated with the network traffic; determine that the network traffic is to be serviced by a target firewall service at the cloud-based secure service system based on the flow data and the contextual information; and direct the network traffic to the target firewall service to be serviced.

Abstract: Techniques for policy-based connection provisioning using Domain Name System (DNS) requests are described herein. The techniques may include receiving policy data associated with one or more headend nodes that manage connections to computing resources. Additionally, the techniques may include receiving a DNS request from a client device to establish a connection between the client device and a first headend node of the one or more headend nodes. The DNS request may include an attribute associated with the client device. A provisioning service may determine that the connection should be established between the client device and the first headend node based at least in part on evaluating the attribute with respect to the policy data. Additionally, the techniques may include sending an internet protocol (IP) address, which is associated with the first headend node, to the client device to facilitate establishment of the connection.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for performing application-based tagging. An example method includes receiving, at a virtual socket, non-packetized data from an application and generating, by the virtual socket, a label based on the application. One or more data packets are generated by packetizing at least a portion of the non-packetized data. A header field of the one or more data packets includes a tag based on the label.

Abstract: Techniques for NAT-based steering of traffic in cloud-based networks. The techniques may include establishing, by a frontend node of a network, a connection with a client device. The frontend node may receive, via the connection, a packet including an indication of an identity of a service hosted on a backend node of the network. Based at least in part on the indication, the frontend node may establish a second connection with the backend node. Additionally, the frontend node may store a mapping indicating that packets received from the client device are to be sent to the backend node. The techniques may also include receiving another packet at the frontend node or another frontend node of the network. Based at least in part on the mapping, the frontend node or other frontend node may alter one or more network addresses of the other packet and forward it to the backend node.