Abstract: A method may include receiving a data flow of an application directed to the destination in a software-defined network (SDN). The method may also include identifying a classification of the application. The method may additionally include identifying a set of performance thresholds associated with the classification of the application. The method may also include determining a current performance of the data flow of the application in the SDN. The method may also include generating a performance score for the application based on the set of performance thresholds and the current performance of the data flow of the application in the SDN. The method may further include causing the performance score for the application to be presented via an interface.

Abstract: A method may include receiving monitor data via the control plane from at least one device of a set of devices in the SDN. The method may further include generating a data model based on a set of SDN parameters and the monitor data. The method may also include determining a change for at least one device of the set of devices in the SDN based on the data model. The method may include generating a policy, based on the change for at least one device of the set of devices in the SDN. The method may further include sending the policy via the control plane to the set of devices in the SDN.

Abstract: A method may include generating a set of instructions for a set of devices in a software-defined network (SDN) to monitor a set of characteristics. The method may further include sending the set of instructions to the set of devices in the SDN via a control plane. The method may also include receiving monitor data via the control plane from at least one device of the set of devices in the SDN. The method may include receiving an input signal to generate a data model in view of a set of input parameters. The method may further include generating the data model based on the set of input parameters and the monitor data. The method may include causing an action pertaining to the SDN in view of the data model.

Abstract: A method may include monitoring a network performance metric for multiple paths to a destination through a network, and storing historical performance data for the paths. The method may also include receiving a data flow directed to the destination, where the data flow may be subject to a network performance agreement. The method may additionally include determining aggregate historical performances for the paths, and comparing the aggregate historical performances for the paths. The method may also include, based on the comparison of the aggregate historical performances, routing the data flow through the network.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for increasing the scalability of software-defined networks may include (1) maintaining a set of databases collectively configured to (i) store a set of flow entries that direct network traffic within a software-defined network and (ii) facilitate searching the set of flow entries based at least in part on at least one key whose size remains substantially constant irrespective of the number of flow entries within the set of flow entries, (2) detecting a request to perform an operation in connection with a flow of data packets within the software-defined network, (3) identifying at least one attribute of the flow of data packets in the request, and then (4) searching, using the attribute of the flow of data packets as a database key, at least one database within the set of databases to facilitate performing the operation. Various other methods, systems, and apparatuses are also disclosed.

Abstract: In general, this disclosure describes a high-level forwarding path description language (FPDL) for describing internal forwarding paths within a network device. The FPDL enables developers to create a template that describes a section of an internal forwarding path within the forwarding plane of a network device. The FPDL provides syntactical elements for specifying the allocation of forwarding path structures as well as enabling the run-time construction of internal forwarding paths to interconnect the forwarding path structures in a manner specific to packet, packet flow, and/or interface properties, for example. In conjunction with late binding techniques, whereby the control plane of the network device provides arguments to template parameters that drive allocation by the packet forwarding engines of forwarding path structures specified by the FPDL, the techniques provide control plane processes a unified interface with which to manage the operation of the packet forwarding engines.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a first core device configured to be disposed within a network. The network has a set of access nodes and a second core device. The first core device is configured to receive a signal designating the first core device as a master device for a virtual group identifier such that the second core device is designated as a back-up device for that virtual group identifier.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for increasing the scalability of software-defined networks may include (1) maintaining a set of databases collectively configured to (i) store a set of flow entries that direct network traffic within a software-defined network and (ii) facilitate searching the set of flow entries based at least in part on at least one key whose size remains substantially constant irrespective of the number of flow entries within the set of flow entries, (2) detecting a request to perform an operation in connection with a flow of data packets within the software-defined network, (3) identifying at least one attribute of the flow of data packets in the request, and then (4) searching, using the attribute of the flow of data packets as a database key, at least one database within the set of databases to facilitate performing the operation. Various other methods, systems, and apparatuses are also disclosed.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for interfacing software-defined networks with non-software-defined networks may include (1) receiving at least one packet via software-defined network at a switching device, (2) searching a set of flow entries that collectively direct network traffic within the software-defined network for a flow entry that corresponds to the packet, (3) determining that the packet is destined for a non-software-defined network based at least in part on the search, and (4) forwarding the packet to the non-software-defined network via a logical tunnel that interfaces the software-defined network with the non-software-defined network by connecting a virtual port within the software-defined network to a virtual port within the non-software-defined network. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a core network node configured to associate with a native multicast group a first client device that is associated with a first virtual local area network (VLAN) and operatively coupled to the core network node via a first access network node and an aggregation network node. The core network node can associate with the native multicast group a second client device that is associated with a second VLAN and operatively coupled to the core network node via a second access network node and the aggregation network node. The core network node can define a multicast VLAN including the first VLAN and the second VLAN based on the native multicast group. The core network node can receive a multicast data unit associated with the native multicast group and can also define a single instance of the multicast data unit for the multicast VLAN.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for increasing the scalability of software-defined networks may include (1) maintaining a set of databases collectively configured to (i) store a set of flow entries that direct network traffic within a software-defined network and (ii) facilitate searching the set of flow entries based at least in part on at least one key whose size remains substantially constant irrespective of the number of flow entries within the set of flow entries, (2) detecting a request to perform an operation in connection with a flow of data packets within the software-defined network, (3) identifying at least one attribute of the flow of data packets in the request, and then (4) searching, using the attribute of the flow of data packets as a database key, at least one database within the set of databases to facilitate performing the operation. Various other methods, systems, and apparatuses are also disclosed.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a first core device configured to be disposed within a network. The network has a set of access nodes and a second core device. The first core device is configured to receive a signal designating the first core device as a master device for a virtual group identifier such that the second core device is designated as a back-up device for that virtual group identifier.

Abstract: In general, this disclosure describes a high-level forwarding path description language (FPDL) for describing internal forwarding paths within a network device. The FPDL enables developers to create a template that describes a section of an internal forwarding path within the forwarding plane of a network device. The FPDL provides syntactical elements for specifying the allocation of forwarding path structures as well as enabling the run-time construction of internal forwarding paths to interconnect the forwarding path structures in a manner specific to packet, packet flow, and/or interface properties, for example. In conjunction with late binding techniques, whereby the control plane of the network device provides arguments to template parameters that drive allocation by the packet forwarding engines of forwarding path structures specified by the FPDL, the techniques provide control plane processes a unified interface with which to manage the operation of the packet forwarding engines.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a core network node configured to associate with a native multicast group a first client device that is associated with a first virtual local area network (VLAN) and operatively coupled to the core network node via a first access network node and an aggregation network node. The core network node can associate with the native multicast group a second client device that is associated with a second VLAN and operatively coupled to the core network node via a second access network node and the aggregation network node. The core network node can define a multicast VLAN including the first VLAN and the second VLAN based on the native multicast group. The core network node can receive a multicast data unit associated with the native multicast group and can also define a single instance of the multicast data unit for the multicast VLAN.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for increasing the scalability of software-defined networks may include (1) maintaining a set of databases collectively configured to (i) store a set of flow entries that direct network traffic within a software-defined network and (ii) facilitate searching the set of flow entries based at least in part on at least one key whose size remains substantially constant irrespective of the number of flow entries within the set of flow entries, (2) detecting a request to perform an operation in connection with a flow of data packets within the software-defined network, (3) identifying at least one attribute of the flow of data packets in the request, and then (4) searching, using the attribute of the flow of data packets as a database key, at least one database within the set of databases to facilitate performing the operation. Various other methods, systems, and apparatuses are also disclosed.

Abstract: In general, this disclosure describes a high-level forwarding path description language (FPDL) for describing internal forwarding paths within a network device. The FPDL enables developers to create a template that describes a section of an internal forwarding path within the forwarding plane of a network device. The FPDL provides syntactical elements for specifying the allocation of forwarding path structures as well as enabling the run-time construction of internal forwarding paths to interconnect the forwarding path structures in a manner specific to packet, packet flow, and/or interface properties, for example. In conjunction with late binding techniques, whereby the control plane of the network device provides arguments to template parameters that drive allocation by the packet forwarding engines of forwarding path structures specified by the FPDL, the techniques provide control plane processes a unified interface with which to manage the operation of the packet forwarding engines.

Abstract: A network device component receives traffic, determines whether the traffic is host bound traffic or non-host bound traffic, and classifies, based on a user-defined classification scheme, the traffic when the traffic is host bound traffic. The network device component also assigns, based on the classification, the classified host bound traffic to a queue associated with network device component for forwarding the classified host bound traffic to a host component of the network device.

Abstract: A network device component receives traffic, determines whether the traffic is host bound traffic or non-host bound traffic, and classifies, based on a user-defined classification scheme, the traffic when the traffic is host bound traffic. The network device component also assigns, based on the classification, the classified host bound traffic to a queue associated with network device component for forwarding the classified host bound traffic to a host component of the network device.

Abstract: A hierarchical multi-rate multi-precedence policer is disclosed. The policer discards packets based on assigned precedence levels. When traffic exceeds an available service rate, the policer drops packets of lower precedence levels to make room for packets of higher precedence levels. In certain implementations, the policer also guarantees bandwidth to each level, thus preventing complete loss of lower precedence traffic when there is a large amount of higher precedence traffic.

Abstract: A method and system for providing delay bound and prioritized packet dropping are disclosed. The system limits the size of a queue configured to deliver packets in FIFO order by a threshold based on a specified delay bound. Received packets are queued if the threshold is not exceeded. If the threshold is exceeded, a packet having a precedence level less than that of the precedence level of the received packet is dropped. If all packets in the queue have a precedence level greater than that of the packet received, then the received packet is dropped if the threshold is exceeded.