Abstract: Examples can include an optimizer that dynamically determines where to place virtual network functions for a slice in a distributed Telco cloud network. The optimizer can determine a slice path that complies with a service level agreement and balances network load. The virtual network functions of the slice can be provisioned at clouds identified by the optimal slice path. In one example, performance metrics are normalized, and tenant-selected weights can be applied. This can allow the optimizer to prioritize particular SLA attributes in choosing an optimal slice path.

Abstract: Example methods and systems for pre-validation of network configuration are disclosed. One example may comprise: detecting a request for network configuration to be implemented in a physical network environment; and identifying a set of physical network elements associated with the network configuration. The method may further comprise emulating the set of physical network elements to determine a physical network behaviour caused by the network configuration; and assessing validity of the network configuration based on the physical network behaviour. The set of physical network elements may be emulated using (a) multiple first physical network element emulators and (b) a second physical network element emulator that aggregates the multiple first physical network element emulators.

Abstract: A disclosed example includes configuring a virtual network and a physical network for at least twenty-four hosts and a top-of-rack switch in less than one minute by: generating, by executing an instruction with one or more processors, network topologies of the hosts based on physical network connection information indicative of physical network connections between the hosts and the top-of-rack switch; determining, by executing an instruction with the one or more processors, whether implementing the network topologies of the hosts concurrently is valid based on an evaluation of the network topologies relative to a network topology validation rule; and configuring, by executing an instruction with the one or more processors, the top-of-rack switch based on one or more of the network topologies.

Abstract: A disclosed example includes: a resource utilization analyzer to determine 1) first workloads of a first workload type deployed in a first server room in a data center, and 2) second workloads of a second workload type deployed in the first server room; a workload authorizer to determine that first virtual machines executing the first workloads and second virtual machines executing the second workloads cause a first server rack to generate an amount of heat; and a migrator to migrate the first virtual machines from the first server rack of the first server room to a second server rack of a second server room in the data center to reduce a temperature in the first server room based on the amount of heat, the migrator to migrate the first virtual machines to the second server rack without migrating the second virtual machines to the second server rack.

Abstract: Examples can include an optimizer that dynamically determines where to place virtual network functions for a slice in a distributed Telco cloud network. The optimizer can determine a slice path that complies with a service level agreement and balances network load. The virtual network functions of the slice can be provisioned at clouds identified by the optimal slice path. In one example, performance metrics are normalized, and tenant-selected weights can be applied. This can allow the optimizer to prioritize particular SLA attributes in choosing an optimal slice path.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a novel method for adjusting a path for a packet flow from a source machine to a destination machine in a network. The method of some embodiments identifies a condition at a first forwarding element along a first path traversed by the packet flow through the network. The first path traverses through a hardware, second forwarding element before the first forwarding element. In some embodiments, the second forwarding element includes a programmable data plane circuit. The method, in some embodiments, uses an application programming interface (API) of the programmable data plane circuit to provide a set of parameters to the data plane circuit that cause the data plane circuit to forego selecting the first path to forward the packets of the packet flow to the destination machine and instead to select a second path, not traversing the first forwarding element, to the destination machine.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for a first network slice selector that selects network slices for connections from endpoint devices located within a first geographic range. The method selects a network slice for a connection between a mobile endpoint device and a network domain that originates when the mobile endpoint device is located within the first geographic range. The method stores state that maps the connection to the selected network slice. The method forwards data traffic belonging to the connection from the mobile endpoint device onto the selected network slice using the stored state. After the mobile endpoint device moves from the first geographic range to a second geographic range, the method receives data traffic belonging to the connection from a second network slice selector that selects network slices for connections from endpoint devices within the second geographic range and forwards said received data traffic onto the selected network slice.

Abstract: A system can reduce congestion in slice-based networks, such as a virtual service network (“VSN”). The system can include a monitoring module that communicates with agents on switches, such as routers or servers. The switches report telematics data to the monitoring module, which determines slice-specific performance attributes such as slice latency and slice throughput. These slice-specific performance attributes are compared against software license agreement (“SLA”) requirements. When the SLA is not met, the monitoring module can implement a new slice path for the slice to reduce the congestion.

Abstract: A switch in a slice-based network can be used to enforce quality of service (“QoS”). Agents can run in the switches, such as in the core of each switch. The switches can sort ingress packets into slice-specific ingress queues in a slice-based pool. The slices can have different QoS prioritizations. A switch-wide policing algorithm can move the slice-specific packets to egress interfaces. Then, one or more user-defined egress policing algorithms can prioritize which packets are sent out into the network first based on slice classifications.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide novel methods for performing services on data messages passing through a network connecting one or more datacenters, such as software defined datacenters (SDDCs). The method of some embodiments uses service containers executing on host computers to perform different chains (e.g., ordered sequences) of services on different data message flows. For a data message of a particular data message flow that is received or generated at a host computer, the method in some embodiments uses a service classifier executing on the host computer to identify a service chain that specifies several services to perform on the data message. For each service in the identified service chain, the service classifier identifies a service container for performing the service. The service classifier then forwards the data message to a service forwarding element to forward the data message through the service containers identified for the identified service chain.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide novel methods for performing services on data messages passing through a network connecting one or more datacenters, such as software defined datacenters (SDDCs). The method of some embodiments uses service containers executing on host computers to perform different chains (e.g., ordered sequences) of services on different data message flows. For a data message of a particular data message flow that is received or generated at a host computer, the method in some embodiments uses a service classifier executing on the host computer to identify a service chain that specifies several services to perform on the data message. For each service in the identified service chain, the service classifier identifies a service container for performing the service. The service classifier then forwards the data message to a service forwarding element to forward the data message through the service containers identified for the identified service chain.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide novel methods for performing services on data messages passing through a network connecting one or more datacenters, such as software defined datacenters (SDDCs). The method of some embodiments uses service containers executing on host computers to perform different chains (e.g., ordered sequences) of services on different data message flows. For a data message of a particular data message flow that is received or generated at a host computer, the method in some embodiments uses a service classifier executing on the host computer to identify a service chain that specifies several services to perform on the data message. For each service in the identified service chain, the service classifier identifies a service container for performing the service. The service classifier then forwards the data message to a service forwarding element to forward the data message through the service containers identified for the identified service chain.

Abstract: Examples can include an optimizer that dynamically determines where to place virtual network functions for a slice in a distributed Telco cloud network. The optimizer can determine a slice path that complies with a service level agreement and balances network load. The virtual network functions of the slice can be provisioned at clouds identified by the optimal slice path. In one example, performance metrics are normalized, and tenant-selected weights can be applied. This can allow the optimizer to prioritize particular SLA attributes in choosing an optimal slice path.

Abstract: A system can reduce congestion in slice-based networks, such as a virtual service network (“VSN”). The system can include a monitoring module that communicates with agents on switches, such as routers or servers. The switches report telematics data to the monitoring module, which determines slice-specific performance attributes such as slice latency and slice throughput. These slice-specific performance attributes are compared against software license agreement (“SLA”) requirements. When the SLA is not met, the monitoring module can implement a new slice path for the slice to reduce the congestion.

Abstract: Examples can include an optimizer that dynamically determines where to place virtual network functions for a slice in a distributed Telco cloud network. The optimizer can determine a slice path that complies with a service level agreement and balances network load. The virtual network functions of the slice can be provisioned at clouds identified by the optimal slice path. In one example, performance metrics are normalized, and tenant-selected weights can be applied. This can allow the optimizer to prioritize particular SLA attributes in choosing an optimal slice path.

Abstract: A disclosed example of autonomously configuring a virtual network and a physical network in a physical rack includes generating network topologies of hosts based on physical network connection information indicative of physical network connections between the hosts and a top-of-rack switch in the physical rack; determining whether implementing the network topologies of the hosts concurrently in the physical rack is valid based on evaluating the network topologies relative to a network topology validation rule; when implementing the network topologies of the hosts concurrently in the physical rack is valid: configuring a virtual distributed switch in a first one of the hosts based on one of the network topologies; and configuring the top-of-rack switch in communication with the first host based on the one of the network topologies.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a novel method of performing network slice-based operations on a data message at a hardware forwarding element (HFE) in a network. For a received data message flow, the method has the HFE identify a network slice associated with the received data message flow. This network slice in some embodiments is associated with a set of operations to be performed on the data message by several network elements, including one or more machines executing on one or more computers in the network. Once the network slice is identified, the method has the HFE process the data message flow based on a rule that applies to data messages associated with the identified slice.

Abstract: In a slice-based network, slice multiplexers can be used to anchor inter-cloud tunnels across different clouds in a slice path. The slice multiplexers can dynamically change a total allocated bandwidth of an outer tunnel and reconfigure relative slice bandwidths of inner tunnels. This can result in an optimized bandwidth allocation that enforces slice priorities, maintains required SLA performance levels, and minimizes total allocated bandwidth on the network connection. The dynamic changes can be based on slice priority levels, total number of slices, and historical slice throughput.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a novel method of performing network slice-based operations on a data message at a hardware forwarding element (HFE) in a network. For a received data message flow, the method has the HFE identify a network slice associated with the received data message flow. This network slice in some embodiments is associated with a set of operations to be performed on the data message by several network elements, including one or more machines executing on one or more computers in the network. Once the network slice is identified, the method has the HFE process the data message flow based on a rule that applies to data messages associated with the identified slice.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a novel method of performing network slice-based operations on a data message at a hardware forwarding element (HFE) in a network. For a received data message flow, the method has the HFE identify a network slice associated with the received data message flow. This network slice in some embodiments is associated with a set of operations to be performed on the data message by several network elements, including one or more machines executing on one or more computers in the network. Once the network slice is identified, the method has the HFE process the data message flow based on a rule that applies to data messages associated with the identified slice.