Abstract: Systems and techniques are described to facilitate using secure tokens for stateless software defined networking. An initial configuration may be created for deploying a network device at a deployment site. A cryptographically secure certificate may be created that includes the initial configuration for deploying the network device at the deployment site. The cryptographically secure certificate may be stored in a secure token that can be inserted into a secure token reader that is located at the deployment site and communicatively coupled to the device at the deployment site. The network device may then be configured at the deployment site by using the secure token.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for public key infrastructure (PKI) based session authentication. An example network device includes one or more processors and memory coupled to the one or more processors. The memory stores instructions that, upon execution, cause one or more processors to: receive, from a source client device, a packet including a header for routing the packet to a destination client device specified within the header and metadata distinct from the header, the metadata specifying public key infrastructure (PKI) information and identity context information identifying a user or device participating in a session between the source client device and the destination client device; verify, based on the PKI information within the metadata, the metadata; and in response to verifying the metadata, apply, based on the identity context information, one or more policy rules for the session associated with the packet.

Abstract: Systems and techniques are described to facilitate using secure tokens for stateless software defined networking. An initial configuration may be created for deploying a network device at a deployment site. A cryptographically secure certificate may be created that includes the initial configuration for deploying the network device at the deployment site. The cryptographically secure certificate may be stored in a secure token that can be inserted into a secure token reader that is located at the deployment site and communicatively coupled to the device at the deployment site. The network device may then be configured at the deployment site by using the secure token.