Abstract: A determination is made regarding whether a firewall will block a network packet. The network packet indicates a set of one or more characteristics. A test packet is generated that indicates the set of characteristics. The test packet is sent to the firewall without using a network. A test result is received from the firewall. The test result is stored.

Abstract: A global manager computer generates management instructions for a particular managed server within an administrative domain according to a set of rules. A global manager computer identifies a traffic midpoint device through which the provider managed server provides a service to a user device. The global manager determines a relevant rule from the set of rules that is applicable to communication between the provider managed server and the user device and generates a backend rule that is applicable to communication between the provider managed server and the traffic midpoint device. The global managed generates a backend function-level instruction including a reference to an actor-set authorized to communicate with the provider managed server to use the service. The global manager sends the backend function-level instruction to the provider managed server to configure the provider managed server to enforce the backend rule on communication with the actor-set including the traffic midpoint device.

Abstract: An access control rule authorizing communication between a plurality of managed servers within an administrative domain is determined. Communication information describing past communication between the plurality of managed servers is obtained. A subset of managed servers from the plurality of managed servers is identified by grouping the plurality of managed servers based on the obtained communication information. A group-level label set is determined to associate with the subset of managed servers. Role labels are determined for managed servers in the subset of managed servers. A managed server is associated with one role label. Based on the group-level label set and the role labels, an access control rule is generated authorizing communication between a first managed server of the subset of managed servers and a second managed server. The access control rule is stored as part of an administrative domain-wide management policy.

Abstract: A server is paired. A pairing request that includes a pairing key is received from an unpaired server. A determination is made regarding whether to approve or reject the pairing request. Making the determination comprises attempting to validate the pairing key in the pairing request. Responsive to determining to approve the pairing request: the unpaired server is notified that the unpaired server is now a managed server; a description of the managed server is generated, wherein the managed server description includes a set of one or more labels that describe the managed server; management instructions are generated for the managed server based on the managed server description and based on an administrative domain-wide management policy that includes a rule that refers to managed servers using a label; and the management instructions are sent to the managed server.

Abstract: Management instructions for a particular managed server within an administrative domain are generated according to an administrative domain-wide management policy that comprises a set of one or more rules. A bound service executed by the particular managed server is identified. The bound service has different high-level characteristics from other services executed by the particular managed server. Relevant rules within the set of rules are determined that are relevant to the bound service. A set of relevant managed servers that are relevant to the bound service are selected by identifying managed servers of the plurality that are referenced by the relevant rules. Function-level instructions are generated that regulate communication between the bound service and the set of relevant managed servers based on the relevant rules. The function-level instructions are sent to the particular managed server for use in configuring a management module to implement the administrative domain-wide management policy.

Abstract: Management instructions for a managed servers are updated according to a set of rules included in management policy. A global manager computer receives information describing a change in a bound service executed by the particular managed server. The global manager generates an updated description of the particular managed server is generated by modifying an initial description of the particular managed server according to the received information describing the change in the bound service. The global manager determines currently relevant rules for the particular managed server. If the currently-relevant rules differ from previously-relevant rules, the global manager determines a rule is that should be added. The global manager generates a function-level instruction including a reference to an authorized actor-set of actors permitted to communicate with the bound service. The global manager configures the particular managed server to enforce the function-level instruction.

Abstract: A global manager computer generates management instructions for a particular managed server within an administrative domain according to a set of rules. A global manager computer identifies a traffic midpoint device through which the provider managed server provides a service to a user device. The global manager determines a relevant rule from the set of rules that is applicable to communication between the provider managed server and the user device and generates a backend rule that is applicable to communication between the provider managed server and the traffic midpoint device. The global managed generates a backend function-level instruction including a reference to an actor-set authorized to communicate with the provider managed server to use the service. The global manager sends the backend function-level instruction to the provider managed server to configure the provider managed server to enforce the backend rule on communication with the actor-set including the traffic midpoint device.

Abstract: A server is paired. A pairing request that includes a pairing key is received from an unpaired server. A determination is made regarding whether to approve or reject the pairing request. Making the determination comprises attempting to validate the pairing key in the pairing request. Responsive to determining to approve the pairing request: the unpaired server is notified that the unpaired server is now a managed server; a description of the managed server is generated, wherein the managed server description includes a set of one or more labels that describe the managed server; management instructions are generated for the managed server based on the managed server description and based on an administrative domain-wide management policy that includes a rule that refers to managed servers using a label; and the management instructions are sent to the managed server.

Abstract: A server is paired. A pairing request that includes a pairing key is received from an unpaired server. A determination is made regarding whether to approve or reject the pairing request. Making the determination comprises attempting to validate the pairing key in the pairing request. Responsive to determining to approve the pairing request: the unpaired server is notified that the unpaired server is now a managed server; a description of the managed server is generated, wherein the managed server description includes a set of one or more labels that describe the managed server; management instructions are generated for the managed server based on the managed server description and based on an administrative domain-wide management policy that includes a rule that refers to managed servers using a label; and the management instructions are sent to the managed server.

Abstract: A determination is made regarding whether a firewall will block a network packet. The network packet indicates a set of one or more characteristics. A test packet is generated that indicates the set of characteristics. The test packet is sent to the firewall without using a network. A test result is received from the firewall. The test result is stored.

Abstract: An access control rule authorizing communication between a plurality of managed servers within an administrative domain is determined. Communication information describing past communication between the plurality of managed servers is obtained. A subset of managed servers from the plurality of managed servers is identified by grouping the plurality of managed servers based on the obtained communication information. A group-level label set is determined to associate with the subset of managed servers. Role labels are determined for managed servers in the subset of managed servers. A managed server is associated with one role label. Based on the group-level label set and the role labels, an access control rule is generated authorizing communication between a first managed server of the subset of managed servers and a second managed server. The access control rule is stored as part of an administrative domain-wide management policy.

Abstract: A managed server (MS) within an administrative domain is quarantined. The administrative domain includes multiple MSs that use management instructions to configure management modules so that the configured management modules implement an administrative domain-wide management policy that comprises a set of one or more rules. The quarantined MS is isolated from other MSs. A description of the MS is modified to indicate that the MS is quarantined, thereby specifying a description of the quarantined MS. Cached actor-sets are updated to indicate the quarantined MS's changed state, thereby specifying updated actor-sets. A determination is made regarding which updated actor-sets are relevant to an other MS, thereby specifying currently-relevant updated actor-sets. A determination is made regarding whether the currently-relevant updated actor-sets differ from actor-sets previously sent to the other MS.

Abstract: A change to a state of a particular managed server within an administrative domain is processed. The administrative domain includes a plurality of managed servers that use management instructions to configure management modules so that the configured management modules implement an administrative domain-wide management policy that comprises a set of one or more rules. A first description of the particular managed server is modified to indicate the particular managed server's changed state, thereby specifying a second description of the particular managed server. The unmodified first description is compared to the second description, thereby specifying a description change. A determination is made, based on the description change, regarding whether to update management instructions previously sent to the particular managed server.

Abstract: Management instructions for a particular managed server within an administrative domain are generated according to an administrative domain-wide management policy that comprises a set of one or more rules. The administrative domain includes a plurality of managed servers. A determination is made regarding which rules within the set of rules are relevant to the particular managed server. Function-level instructions are generated based on the rules that were determined to be relevant. A determination is made regarding which managed servers within the plurality of managed servers are relevant to the particular managed server. The function-level instructions and information regarding the managed servers that were determined to be relevant are sent to the particular managed server.

Abstract: A network router includes a plurality of interfaces configured to send and receive packets, and a routing component comprising: (i) a routing engine that includes a control unit that executes a routing protocol to maintain routing information specifying routes through a network, and (ii) a forwarding plane configured by the routing engine to select next hops for the packets in accordance with the routing information. The forwarding plane comprises a switch fabric to forward the packets to the interfaces based on the selected next hops. The network router also includes a security plane configured to apply security functions to the packets. The security plane is integrated within the network router to share a streamlined forwarding plane of the routing component.

Abstract: In general, techniques are described for managing multiple access policies in a network access control system. An endpoint device may send, to a policy decision point (“PDP”), a request to communicate on a network. When the PDP receives such an access request, the PDP typically identifies a set of access policies to be enforced with regard to the endpoint device and causes the identified access policies to be enforced with regard to the endpoint device. These access policies may specify rights to communicate on networks and/or rights to communicate with server resources and/or endpoint configuration requirements. However, because the endpoint device may issue multiple access requests, conflicting sets of access policies may potentially be enforced with regard to the endpoint device. The techniques described herein ensure that only a consistent set of access policies are enforced with regard to the endpoint device when accessing the network.