Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a multicast based solution to solving the slow-start problem that ensures both optimal (1-hop) and in-sequence delivery of packets to the destination. Packets are hardware switched thereby completely eliminating the slow software switching path.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for configuring a LISP mobility network. A management tool receives a configuration for a network fabric. The configuration specifies values for one or more attributes associated with a Locator ID Separation Protocol (LISP)-enabled network. The management tool generates one or more commands based on the specified values for the one or more attributes associated with the LISP-enabled network. The generated commands are distributed to a plurality of network devices in the network fabric. Each network device executes the one or more commands to configure the network fabric.

Abstract: Techniques are presented to signal where a virtual machine (host) has moved in a data center networking environment. These techniques use Multiprotocol Border Gateway Protocol (MP BGP) alone, and are particularly useful in a multi-vendor environment using existing standards. Reverse Address Resolution Protocol (RARP) broadcast is not needed, therefore, no L2 extension is needed across a data center interface for tenants that do not require L2 extension for purposes other than a host move. This scheme works for both inter- and intra-fabric moves.

Abstract: A system and a method for providing conversational learning is implemented in a network environment. An exemplary method includes receiving a subnet route advertisement that includes an attribute that triggers glean behavior for routing decisions; and installing a subnet entry in a Forwarding Information Base/Adjacency (FIB/ADJ) table. The subnet entry includes a subnet associated with the subnet route advertisement and a corresponding glean adjacency. The corresponding glean adjacency is configured to trigger installation of a host entry associated with a host in an active conversation in a network.

Abstract: An example method for implementation of virtual extensible local area network (VXLAN) in top-of-rack (ToR) switches in a network environment is provided and includes receiving a packet encapsulated with a VXLAN header having an unknown virtual tunnel endpoint (VTEP) Internet Protocol (IP) address in a network environment, and installing an entry at an index location of a forwarding table. The index location includes an encoding of the VTEP-IP address as a VTEP index (VTEP-IDX), and the entry maps a VXLAN interface to an IP address associated with a VXLAN network identifier (VNI). In specific embodiments, the VTEP-IDX is log N bits, where N is a size of the forwarding table. The forwarding table indicates a destination VTEP IP address when encapsulating the packet, and the source VTEP IP address when decapsulating the packet.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for improving routing for a stretched subnet includes receiving a first communication on a border leaf of the stretched subnet, where the border leaf is a top of rack (ToR) switch configured to facilitate connectivity between an internal data center fabric and at least one external site associated with the stretched subnet, based on routing information received with the received communication, identifying a source address for the received communication as either from within the internal data center fabric or from the at least one external site, and if the source address is from the external site, storing an abbreviated route based on the source address in at least one hardware table, where the abbreviated route is a route to the at least one external site, and upon subsequent receipt of a second communication to be forwarded to the source address, forwarding the second communication in accordance with the abbreviated route.

Abstract: An example method for routing IPv6 link-local addresses in a network environment is provided and includes receiving a packet at a first switch from an attached first host in a virtual local area network (VLAN) associated with a virtual routing and forwarding (VRF) instance of a network environment, where the packet is destined to an Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) link-local address of a remote second host in the VLAN, and routing the packet at Layer 3 to a second switch, to which the second host is attached. In specific embodiments, the second switch routes the packet at Layer 3 to the second host if the VRF does not include duplicate IPv6 link-local addresses corresponding to the IPv6 link-local address of the second host; the second switch bridges the packet at Layer 2 to the second host if the VRF includes at least one duplicate IPv6 link-local address.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving at a first network element a packet from a second network element; processing the packet at the first network element to obtain information regarding an identity of a virtual machine (“VM”) hosted by the second network element contained within the packet; and storing at the first network element the identifying information. The identifying information stored at the first network element is accessible by at least one third network element. In some embodiments, the first network element comprises a physical switch and the second network element comprises a virtual switch.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for updating routing tables of switch devices. At a first switch device of a first rack unit in a network, information is received about addresses of host devices in the network. The addresses are stored in a software cache. A packet is received from a first host device assigned to a first subnet and housed in the first rack unit. The packet is destined for a second host device assigned to a second subnet and housed in a second rack unit in the network. The packet is forwarded using the subnet entry and it may remain sub-optimal during a period before which an entry can be installed form a software cache. The software cache is evaluated to determine the address of the second host device. The packet is then forwarded optimally. This will ensure any-to-any communications in the network initially sub-optimally and subsequently optimally.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for provisioning network resources for virtual machines. At a first switch device, a configuration request message is received from a virtual switch to provision virtual network segmentation resources for a virtual machine managed by the virtual switch. The first switch device provisions the virtual network segmentation resources for the virtual machine. The first switch devices sends to a second switch device a first synchronization message that includes information describing the virtual network segmentation resources. The second switch device is a peer of the first switch device. The first switch device also sends to the second switch device a second synchronization message that includes state information indicating that the first switch device is in an active state for servicing the virtual machine and that the second switch device is to be placed in a dormant state for servicing the virtual machine.

Abstract: At a physical device in a network configured to host a virtual switch and one or more virtual machines, a packet is received at the virtual switch from a source virtual machine that is directly attached to that virtual switch. A destination Media Access Control (MAC) address is identified from the packet indicating a destination virtual machine for the packet. In response to determining that the destination MAC address of the packet is not present in a database of MAC addresses accessible by the virtual switch, the destination MAC address of the packet is replaced with a shared MAC address associated with a plurality of physical switches in the network.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for sending address information of virtual machines to a physical switch. A migration of a virtual machine to a physical server is detected. The physical server obtains address information of the virtual machine, and upon obtaining the address information of the virtual machine, the physical server sends the address information to a first physical switch that is connected to the physical server.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for OAM in overlay networks. In response to receiving a packet associated with an OAM operation from a device in an overlay network, the system generates an OAM packet. The system can be coupled with the overlay network and can include a tunnel endpoint interface associated with an underlay address and a virtual interface associated with an overlay address. The overlay address can be an anycast address assigned to the system and another device in the overlay network. Next, the system determines that a destination address associated with the packet is not reachable through the virtual interface, the destination address corresponding to a destination node in the overlay network. The system also determines that the destination address is reachable through the tunnel endpoint interface. The system then provides the underlay address associated with the tunnel endpoint interface as a source address in the OAM packet.

Abstract: A leaf switch of a switch fabric includes multiple ports to connect with respective ones of multiple servers. Virtual local area networks (VLANs) are configured on the leaf switch. Dynamic creation of virtual ports is enabled on the leaf switch for at least one of the VLANs on an as needed basis. The leaf switch receives from a particular server connected to a corresponding one of the ports a notification message that a virtual machine is hosted on the particular server. Responsive to the notification message, the leaf switch dynamically creates a virtual port that associates the corresponding one of the ports with the at least one of the VLANs.

Abstract: In accordance with one example embodiment, there is provided a system configured for virtual local area network (VLAN) blocking on a virtual port channel (vPC) member link to handle discrepant virtual network instance (VNI) to VLAN mappings. In other embodiments, the system can be configured for providing Virtual Switch Interface Discovery Protocol (VDP) and virtual switch enhancements to accommodate discrepant VNI to VLAN mappings. In another example embodiment, an apparatus is provided that includes a processor, and a memory coupled to the processor, where the apparatus is configured such that if a server is connected through a virtual port channel, a VDP is used to notify the server of different VNI to VLAN mappings. In another embodiment, the apparatus can extend a VDP Filter Info Field to carry a set of VLANs mapped to a VNI, keyed by leaf MAC addresses that serve as bridge identifiers.

Abstract: A system and a method for providing conversational learning is implemented in a network environment. An exemplary method includes receiving a subnet route advertisement that includes an attribute that triggers glean behavior for routing decisions; and installing a subnet entry in a Forwarding Information Base/Adjacency (FIB/ADJ) table. The subnet entry includes a subnet associated with the subnet route advertisement and a corresponding glean adjacency. The corresponding glean adjacency is configured to trigger installation of a host entry associated with a host in an active conversation in a network.

Abstract: In accordance with one example embodiment, there is provided a system configured for virtual local area network (VLAN) blocking on a virtual port channel (vPC) member link to handle discrepant virtual network instance (VNI) to VLAN mappings. In other embodiments, the system can be configured for providing Virtual Switch Interface Discovery Protocol (VDP) and virtual switch enhancements to accommodate discrepant VNI to VLAN mappings. In another example embodiment, an apparatus is provided that includes a processor, and a memory coupled to the processor, where the apparatus is configured such that if a server is connected through a virtual port channel, a VDP is used to notify the server of different VNI to VLAN mappings. In another embodiment, the apparatus can extend a VDP Filter Info Field to carry a set of VLANs mapped to a VNI, keyed by leaf MAC addresses that serve as bridge identifiers.

Abstract: Techniques described herein provide enhanced address allocation services in a network. A switch device in communication with a host device is configured as an address relay device and receives an address request message from the host device. The switch device modifies the address request message to include a response address that uniquely identifies the switch device. The switch device adds in a field of the address request message subnetwork information that identifies a subnetwork to which the host device belongs. The switch device sends the modified address request message to an address server.

Abstract: In accordance with one example embodiment, there is provided a system configured for virtual local area network (VLAN) blocking on a virtual port channel (vPC) member link to handle discrepant virtual network instance (VNI) to VLAN mappings. In other embodiments, the system can be configured for providing Virtual Switch Interface Discovery Protocol (VDP) and virtual switch enhancements to accommodate discrepant VNI to VLAN mappings. In another example embodiment, an apparatus is provided that includes a processor, and a memory coupled to the processor, where the apparatus is configured such that if a server is connected through a virtual port channel, a VDP is used to notify the server of different VNI to VLAN mappings. In another embodiment, the apparatus can extend a VDP Filter Info Field to carry a set of VLANs mapped to a VNI, keyed by leaf MAC addresses that serve as bridge identifiers.

Abstract: Embodiments include determining computing resources within one or more data centers onto which a virtual workload can be deployed. Network state data is determined for a plurality of network resources within a network fabric of a data center. For each of the plurality of computing resources, embodiments determine a respective suitability value describing a fitness of the respective physical server for deploying at least a portion of the virtual workload. Such a determination includes determining a respective at least one of the plurality of network resources within the at least one network fabric corresponding to the respective computing resource and determining a current workload of the at least one network resource, based on the network state data. Upon selecting one or more computing resources of the plurality of computing resources based on the determined suitability values, embodiments deploy the virtual workload onto the selected one or more computing resources.