Abstract: A transmission system includes: a first transmission device that receives a first signal from the work path; a second transmission device, coupled to a protection path in a redundant configuration with respect to the work path, that receives a second signal from the protection path; and a first communication device coupled to the first and second transmission devices, wherein the first communication device, when detecting switching information from the first transmission device, notifies the first transmission device of first switching notification information and notifies the second transmission device of second switching notification information, the first transmission device stops relaying the first signal to the first communication device in response to the first switching notification information from the first communication device, and the second transmission device starts to relay the second signal to the first communication device in response to the second switching notification information from the f

Abstract: A stacked switch packet communication system is connected to a Multi-Chassis Link Aggregation Group (MLAG). Devices in the system include a designated device for receiving packets that are destined for the MLAG. A new MLAG device is enabled while continuing packet communication by identifying an address of a single port in the new MLAG device. In first updates of the devices the single port is established in the forwarding databases of the devices and the packets transmitted through the devices to the single port. Thereafter, in second updates the single port is replaced in the forwarding databases by another port of the new MLAG device. Upon completion of respective second updates, the packets are transmitted through the devices to the other port in the MLAG.

Abstract: A method and device for authenticating a user of a communication device accessing an online service. The online service is accessible over a data network and is provided through a service platform. The communication device is connected to a mobile phone network and to the data network. The communication device includes an interface software application configured to interact with the service platform through the data network for fruition of the online service, and a messaging function configured to send messages through the mobile phone network. A user-side authentication application is provided at the communication device, a provider-side authentication application is provided at the service platform, and an authentication control function is provided in communication relationship with the provider-side authentication application and with the mobile phone network.

Abstract: Traffic is transferred between a first consumer network node and a second consumer network node via a local connection established at a first service provider network node. The first service provider network node is connected to the first consumer network node via a first attachment circuit, and to the second network consumer node via a second attachment circuit. A loss in connectivity is detected between the first consumer network node and the second consumer network node via the local connection, and in response, traffic is transferred between the first consumer network node and the second consumer network node via a remote connection. The remote connection includes a pseudowire established between the first service provider network node and a second service provider network node. The second consumer network node is connected to the second service provider network node via a third attachment circuit.

Abstract: In one example, techniques of this disclosure may enable a point of local repair (PLR) network device to signal availability of link protection or node protection to a merge point (MP) network device and enable a network device to actively determine whether or not it is a merge point router. Based on whether or not the network device determines it is a MP, the network device may selectively clean up LSP states when there is an upstream link or node failure. The RSVP-TE protocol may be extended to enable a network device to send a tear down message to a downstream router, which may enable the downstream router to conditionally delete locale LSP state information. In some instances, a PLR network device may directly send a tear down message to a MP network device even though the PLR network device may not have a working bypass LSP.

Abstract: Communication resumption information can be retained nodes of a cluster of nodes that form a distributed computing system. The communication resumption information can be exchanged between a node of the cluster and a peer node of the cluster after resumption of communication following a loss of communication between the node and the peer node. A determination of whether communication between the node and the peer node can be reestablished without losing messages can include comparing the communication resumption information received by the node from the peer node with the communication resumption information retained at the node. Communication between the node and the peer node can be resumed based when the determining indicates that communication between the node and the peer node can be reestablished without losing messages.

Abstract: A network controller comprising a processor configured to obtain topology information of a network, wherein the topology information indicates a plurality of non-software-defined networking (non-SDN) network elements (NEs) interconnected by a plurality of links in the network, analyze each non-SDN NE according to the topology information to determine whether the non-SDN NE is a candidate NE for establishing a backup tunnel to protect a single-link failure at one of the plurality of links, and select a plurality of target NEs from the candidate NEs to protect against all single link-failures in the network, and a transmitter coupled to the processor and configured to send a first message to a first of the target NEs to dynamically enable software-defined networking (SDN) functionalities at the first target NE in order to facilitate single-link failure protection in the network.

Abstract: A system and method for base topology selection includes a network controller including a control unit and one or more ports coupled to the control unit and configured to couple the network controller to one or more network switching devices of a network. The network controller is configured to receive initiation messages from the network switching devices, receive configuration and status messages from the network switching devices, transmit discovery requests to the network switching devices, receive discovery responses from the network switching devices, determine a network topology of the network based on information associated with the initiation messages, the configuration and status messages, and the discovery responses, apply heuristic rules to the network topology, and select a base topology based on results of the applied heuristic rules.

Abstract: RF circuitry, which includes an antenna VSWR RF duplexer and duplexer control circuitry, is disclosed. The antenna VSWR RF duplexer includes a first hybrid RF coupler having a first main port coupled to an RF antenna, a first isolation port, and a first pair of quadrature ports; a second hybrid RF coupler having a second main port, a second isolation port, and a second pair of quadrature ports; a third hybrid RF coupler having a third main port, a third isolation port, and a third pair of quadrature ports; and RF filter circuitry coupled to the first pair of quadrature ports, the second pair of quadrature ports, and the third pair of quadrature ports, such that the antenna VSWR RF duplexer provides an antenna VSWR signal. The duplexer control circuitry receives and processes the antenna VSWR signal, which is representative of VSWR mismatch conditions at the first main port.

Abstract: Electrical-optical interface devices and methods for use in optical communications systems are disclosed. The electrical-optical interface devices are configured to convert electrical signals to optical signals and optical signals to electrical signals, and are configured to connect to external devices. The electrical-optical interface device is configured to monitor the data transmission between external devices over a primary communication pathway. The electrical-optical interface device is designed to reconfigure itself when it receives information about a communication error so that it automatically utilizes secondary optical communication pathways as redundant optical communication pathways to maintain data communication between the external devices.

Abstract: In general, techniques are described for identifying a result set of multiple paths through a network for one or more label switched paths between a source node and a destination node. In some examples, the identified paths are computed to be broadly separate to avoid overlapping network elements. A device that routes the label switched paths to the network may select from the result set of multiple paths to route each of the label switched paths. In response to detecting a failure of a network element along the routed path for a label switched path, the device may select a new path from the result set that includes already-identified paths.

Abstract: In an example, a computer-readable medium may store executable instructions. The executable instructions may be to detect an inoperative network device in a communication network managed by a controller, determine a network switching function assigned to the inoperative network device, and provide the network switching function through the controller itself instead of the inoperative network device.

Abstract: A data packet forwarding solution, which relates to the field of network transmission. A virtual switch in the solution saves a flow entry as an aging flow entry deleted from a flow table in a switch, and receives a reporting data packet generated according to a forwarding data packet when the forwarding data packet fails to match each flow entry in the flow table in the switch and a secure channel between the switch and the controller is faulty, delivers an aging flow entry matching the reporting data packet from an aging flow table to the switch, where the aging flow table includes one or more flow entries that are deleted as aging flow entries from a flow table in the switch.

Abstract: A method for managing a connection apparatus and a connection apparatus are disclosed. In an embodiment the connection apparatus includes a first connector configured to be connected to a service processing unit, a second connector configured to be connected to a first switching unit, a third connector configured to be connected to a second switching unit, wherein the third connector is further configured to be disconnected from the second switching unit and connected to the first switching unit. The apparatus further comprises a first transmission medium, a second transmission medium, one end of the first transmission medium being directly connected to the first connector, one end of the second transmission medium being directly connected to the first connector, another end of the first transmission medium being directly connected to the second connector, and another end of the second transmission medium being directly connected to the third connector.

Abstract: A method of supporting N active, distributed HSRP gateways in a virtual Extensible local area network. The method includes: joining by HSRP active, HSRP standby, HSRP listen gateways a special virtual Extensible LAN tunnel endpoint address; advertising by HSRP active, HSRP standby, HSRP listen gateways its address; assigning priority to HSRP active, HSRP standby, HSRP listen gateways; determining the liveliness of the HSRP active gateway; and the HSRP active gateway sourcing Hello with HSRP VMAC in the inner layer 2 header, and the special virtual Extensible LAN tunnel endpoint address in the outer Layer 3 address; replying by the HSRP active gateway to a broadcast ARP to an HSRP Virtual IP address; forwarding packets destined to Virtual MAC by any of HSRP active, HSRP standby, HSRP listen gateways and replying by HSRP active, HSRP standby, HSRP listen gateways to a unicast ARP to an HSRP Virtual IP address.

Abstract: A technique for assisting remote diagnosis of an access gateway by an administration apparatus. The gateway enables access to a wide area communication network via an access network. A failure affecting access to the wide area communications network gateway via the access network is detected. A device obtains an identifier of the access gateway and a datum assisting diagnosis of the failure by using a radio communication channel and sends the identifier and the datum obtained to the administration apparatus via an access means in an operational state.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a method in a network node of a wireless communication network comprises determining that a plurality of S1-AP UE contexts maintained by the network node remain valid after a SCTP failure; generating an S1 Setup Request message comprising an indication that the UE contexts remain valid; and communicating the S1 Setup Request message to a MME. In particular embodiments, a method in an MME comprises receiving an S1 Setup Request message from a network node comprising an indication that UE contexts maintained by the network node remain valid after a SCTP failure. The MME determines a plurality of UE contexts maintained by the MME remain valid after a SCTP failure; generates an S1 Setup Response message comprising an indication that UE contexts maintained by the MME remain valid; and communicates the S1 Setup Response message to the network node.

Abstract: A method is provided to control an IP core network, including first and second routers connected to an external data packet network and switches able to connect to a base station of a network for access to the first and second routers. The data packet network is able to send data streams through the IP core network destined for the terminals attached to the base station, at least one data stream currently being conveyed between the external network and at least one terminal. The method includes: establishing a rule for processing a stream by the first router, assigning the second router as backup router for the first router; transmitting to the external data packet network information relating to the assigning of the backup router; detecting an event relating to a failure of the first router; and transmitting to the backup router an established processing rule to be applied.

Abstract: In one example, a method includes configuring a first provider edge (PE) router of a Provider Backbone Bridging (PBB) Ethernet Virtual Private Network (EVPN) to join an Ethernet Segment in active-active mode with at least a second PE router that is operating as a designated forwarder for the Ethernet Segment; receiving, by the first PE router from a remote PE router and prior to the first PE router performing Media Access Control (MAC) learning of a customer-MAC (C-MAC) address that is reachable via a backbone-MAC (B-MAC) address associated with the Ethernet Segment, a network packet that includes the C-MAC address; and in response to determining that the C-MAC address has not been learned by the first PE router and the B-MAC address included in the network packet is associated with the Ethernet Segment, forwarding, by the first PE router, the network packet to a destination identified by the C-MAC address.

Abstract: Example embodiments of the present invention relate to an optical node comprising of at least two degrees, a plurality of directionless add/drop ports, a plurality of primary WDM transmitters and receivers, and at least one protection WDM transmitter and receiver, wherein the at least one protection WDM transmitter and receiver can transmit and receive in place of any of the plurality of primary WDM transmitters and receivers.

Abstract: In general, techniques are provided for described herein that extend existing Ethernet Virtual Private Network (EVPN) protocol signaling mechanisms so that local, multi-homing PEs couple to an Ethernet segment can definitively convey their primary/backup designated forwarder (DF) status to any remote PE of the EVPN. In one example, this is accomplished by utilizing a new extended community attribute to each Ethernet A-D per EVI route advertised by each of the multi-homing PEs to specifically carry the advertising PE's primary or backup status. As such, any receiving remote PE need not rely on the arrival of individual MAC routes from a new primary PE and withdrawal of MAC routes from a former primary PE to update its forwarding information.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes identifying at a first edge device, a failure at a second edge device, the first and second edge devices located in a local network site in communication with remote network sites in an overlay network, changing a state of a routing locator address at the first edge device from down to up in response to the failure at the second edge device, the routing locator address initially associated with the second edge device, and advertising the routing locator address at the first edge device in an underlay network so that packets from the remote network sites are forwarded to the first edge device upon convergence in the underlay network. An apparatus and logic are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, comprises: providing, by a computing device, a policy notification to selected one or more user devices via a primary communications channel to cause the selected one or more user devices to update a policy when the policy notification is received by the user device; and providing, by the computing device, an alternate policy to the selected one or more user devices via an alternate communications channel when the selected one or more user devices does not receive the policy notification via the primary communications channel, wherein providing the alternate policy notification causes the selected one or more user devices to update the policy.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for streaming external data in parallel from a second distributed system to a first distributed system. One of the methods includes receiving a query that requests a join of first rows of a first table in a first distributed system with second rows of an external table, the external table representing data in a second distributed system. Each of the segment nodes communicates with a respective extension service that obtains fragments from one or more data nodes of the second distributed system according to location information for the respective fragments, and provides to the segment node a stream of data corresponding to second rows of the external table. Each of the segment nodes computes joined rows between the first rows of the first table and the stream of data corresponding to second rows of the external table.

Abstract: A method for processing data forwarding and a Service Provider-end Provider Edge (SPE) are disclosed, including the following steps: the SPE configuring data forwarding information which includes a corresponding relationship between Multi Segment Pseudo Wires (MSPW) information and forwarding information of an MSPW protection link group or a corresponding relationship between the MSPW information and forwarding information of other MSPW except the forwarding information of the MSPW protection link group (101); the SPE receiving a service message (102) carrying the MSPW information; the SPE querying the forwarding information of the MSPW protection link group or the forwarding information of other MSPW except the forwarding information of the MSPW protection link group (103); and the SPE performing label encapsulation and forwarding according to the queried-out forwarding information of the MSPW protection link group or forwarding information of other MSPW except the forwarding information of the MSPW protecti

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) layer 3 highly-available routers. An example method comprises: receiving a request to create a highly-available (HA) virtual router; configuring a HA virtual router to run on a plurality of network nodes, the HA virtual router comprising a master instance and a plurality of standby instances; assigning a floating Internet Protocol (IP) address associated with the virtual router to an internal network interface of the master instance; responsive to detecting a failure of the master instance of the HA virtual router, identifying a standby instance to act as a new master instance; and assigning the floating IP address to an internal network interface of the new master instance.

Abstract: A radio access network node and methods are described herein for signaling an indication of a network restart to wireless devices within a cellular network. In one embodiment, the radio access network node is operable to: (1) signal, to the wireless devices, an indication that a network restart has occurred in a core network node in a pool of core network nodes in the cellular network; and (2) receive, from at least one of the wireless devices, a re-registration message in response to the signaling of the indication that the network restart has occurred. The wireless device and methods implemented by the same are also described herein.

Abstract: Devices, methods and instructions encoded on computer readable medium for implementation of a dual-adjacency between edge devices of a network site. A first edge device comprises one or more local interfaces configured for communication, via a local network, with one or more network devices co-located in a first network site. The first edge device also comprises one or more overlay interfaces configured for communication, via a core network, with one or more network devices located in one or more other network sites connected to the core network. The first edge device comprises a processor configured to establish, via at least one of the local interfaces, a site communication channel with a second edge device co-located in the first network site. The processor is further configured to establish an overlay communication channel, via at least one of the overlay interfaces, with the second edge device.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical network system including a upper network equipment, a lower network equipment, and a plurality of transfer network equipments connecting the upper network equipment and the lower network equipment through independent optical links, wherein the lower network equipment performs switching such that transmission and reception of an optical signal are performed through an optical link of a standby line when a failure occurs in at least one of an optical link used as a working line, an optical interface device associated with the working line in the upper network equipment, and a transfer network equipment associated with the working line.

Abstract: A method for electing a master blade in a virtual application distribution chassis (VADC), includes: sending by each blade a VADC message to each of the other blades; determining by each blade that the VADC message was not received from the master blade within a predetermined period of time; in response, sending a master claim message including a blade priority by each blade to the other blades; determining by each blade whether any of the blade priorities obtained from the received master claim messages is higher than the blade priority of the receiving blade; in response to determining that none of the blade priorities obtained is higher, setting a status of a given receiving blade to a new master blade; and sending by the given receiving blade a second VADC message to the other blades indicating the status of the new master blade of the given receiving blade.

Abstract: A communication network includes relaying apparatuses, each including redundant-route ports providing communication routes between the relaying apparatuses. The relaying apparatus determines whether a first frame received via a usual port is highly important. The first frame being highly important is transmitted via the respective redundant-route ports; the first frame being not highly important is transmitted via one redundant-route port. The relaying apparatus receives a second frame being highly important via the respective redundant-route ports; the second frame has a transmission destination corresponding to an apparatus connected with the relaying apparatus via the usual port. The relaying apparatus makes determination whether or not all the second frames received via the respective redundant-route ports accord with each other. With affirmative determination, one of the second frames is transferred to the transmission destination. With negative determination, all the second frames are cancelled.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example and includes assigning a virtual switch identifier to a group of a plurality of switches in which each of the plurality of switches is configured with a redundancy protocol. The method further includes configuring a redundancy protocol priority value for each the plurality of switches, and generating at least one link-state routing protocol message including priority information indicative of the redundancy protocol priority value associated with one or more of the plurality of switches. The method further includes distributing the at least one link-state routing protocol message to one or more of the plurality of switches.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for notifying a network abnormality are provided. An OpenFlow switch detects whether an abnormality occurs in an OpenFlow network. The OpenFlow switch sends a first asynchronous message for describing the abnormality occurring in the OpenFlow network to a controller when detecting an abnormality occurring in the OpenFlow network, so that the controller processes, according to the first asynchronous message, the abnormality occurring in the OpenFlow network. In this way, the abnormality in the network is notified in time, thereby improving efficiency in processing the abnormality in the OpenFlow network. A technical problem in the prior art that an abnormality occurring in an OpenFlow network and caused by an unexpected event cannot be notified in time, so that the abnormality occurring in the OpenFlow network cannot be processed in time and efficiency in processing the abnormality occurring in the OpenFlow network is relatively low is solved.

Abstract: An optical network system includes an optical line terminal, an optical splitter that is connected to the optical line terminal via one first optical fiber, and a plurality of optical network units that are connected to the optical splitter via respective second optical fibers. The plurality of optical network units communicate with the optical line terminal using an optical signal of a working wavelength uniquely assigned to each of them. The optical line terminal communicates with an optical network unit that is connected to the optical splitter using an optical signal of a working wavelength and an optical signal of a spare wavelength that is common to a plurality of optical networks.

Abstract: A module has switchable operation states. A first switching unit switches the module between a first operation state and a second operation state. A first interface switches between sending signals to another module which has switchable operation states and receiving signals from the other module. The first interface sends a first signal to the other module when the module is in the first operation state, sends a second signal to the other module when the module is to be switched into the second operation state, and receives signals from the other module when the module is in the second operation state. A second interface communicates with the other module. When the second interface receives a response of the other module to the second signal, the first switching unit switches the module into the second operation state. The reliability of module switching is improved in an embodiment.

Abstract: A reconfigurable RF receive diplexer, which includes a first hybrid RF coupler, a second hybrid RF coupler, and reconfigurable RF filter circuitry, is disclosed. The reconfigurable RF receive diplexer receives a first adjunct RF antenna receive signal via a first isolation port to provide a first adjunct RF receive signal via a second main port. The reconfigurable RF receive diplexer further receives a first RF transmit signal via a first main port to provide a first RF antenna transmit signal via the first isolation port. The reconfigurable RF receive diplexer operates in each of a group of operating modes, such that during a first operating mode, a carrier frequency of the first adjunct RF antenna receive signal is within a first RF communications band; and during a second operating mode, a carrier frequency of the first adjunct RF antenna receive signal is within a second RF communications band.

Abstract: A client edge device relying upon end-to-end pseudowire connections may compensate for network interruptions due to impending events. The device may monitor control channels associated with physical interfaces, where each physical interface is associated with a separate control channel and pseudowires that are associated with virtual local area networks (VLANs). The device may detect an interruption in service over a first control channel associated with a first physical interface, and determine whether an impending event will occur at a first provider edge device associated with the first physical interface. Routing metrics may be adjusted for each VLAN associated with the first physical interface, in order to route ingress traffic away from the first provider edge device and towards another device associated with a different physical interface. The device may reroute traffic to at least one remote customer edge device over a pseudowire associated with the second provider edge device.

Abstract: A safety apparatus for personnel on an oil drilling rig includes a cylindrical quick disconnect switch having a receptacle and a plunger. The receptacle has an open circuit pair of electrical wires. The plunger is configured to attach to a derrick man. The plunger and the receptacle are configured to mate when the plunger is inserted into the receptacle and to remain frictionally mated until pulled apart. The mating results in closing the circuit between the pair of electrical wires.

Abstract: The communication method comprises transmitting a transfer command to transfer the data control, which enables execution of controlling data stored in one or more communication devices connected to at least one of the first and second master devices, from the first master device to the second master device through a first communication line, transmitting a response to the transfer command from the second master device to the first master device through the first communication line, and transmitting a confirmation notification for the response from the first master device to the second master device through the first communication line. The execution of controlling data in the first master device is stopped when the first master device has transmitted the confirmation notification, and the execution of controlling data in the second master device is enabled when the second master device has received the confirmation notification.

Abstract: A hybrid routing—application network fabric apparatus is presented where a fabric apparatus has multiple apparatus components or resources that can be dedicated to one or more application topologies. The apparatus can receive a topology image definition file describing an application topology and the apparatus can dedicate its local components for use with the application topology. The apparatus can dedicate general purpose processing cores, dedicated routing cores, data channels, networking ports, memory or other local resources to the application topology. Contemplated application topologies include routing topologies, computation topologies, database topologies, storage topologies, or other types of application topologies. Furthermore, application topologies can be optimized by modeling or simulating the topologies on a network fabric.

Abstract: A method for determining cable connections identifies a plurality of cables connected to a link included in a first device. The method identifies a first cable connected to the link included in the first device. The method determines that a second cable connected to is connected to a link included in a second device The method further determines that only one of an inbound and an outbound channel of a signaling lane included in the first cable is operable. The method utilizes a second cable to perform one of disabling signal transmission or detecting loss of signal on the operable channel. The method enables and disables signal transmission on the operable channel to determine that the first cable is connected to the link included in the remote device.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for managing transactions in a software defined network (SDN). A method performed in a controller may comprise generating a group message for modifying flow entries of a plurality of flow tables related to each other in a switch; and transmitting the group message to the switch. Thus, a plurality of flow tables having relevance to each other can be simultaneously modified so that modifications on a plurality of switches can be synchronized, and consistency of them can be guaranteed.

Abstract: In one example embodiment, a time unconstrained fabric switch software upgrade function is described for an in-switch-software-upgrade/downgrade (ISSU) in a network switch. Prior to an ISSU, Hello protocol data unit (PDU) information is stored for relevant control protocols of associated interfaces of the switch. The Hello PDU information comprises information on messages and data exchanged by the control protocols that may be used to maintain communications links of the switch. During the configuring of the ISSU, and while the control plane of the switch is, at least partially, dysfunctional, Hello PDUs are sent on the interfaces according to the stored PDU information in order to maintain the communication links. The Hello PDU information may include a time interval value for each relevant protocol that determines when Hello PDUs are sent.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for streaming external data in parallel from a second distributed system to a first distributed system. One of the methods includes receiving a query that requests a join of first rows of a first table in a first distributed system with second rows of an external table, the external table representing data in a second distributed system. Each of the segment nodes communicates with a respective extension service that obtains fragments from one or more data nodes of the second distributed system according to location information for the respective fragments, and provides to the segment node a stream of data corresponding to second rows of the external table. Each of the segment nodes computes joined rows between the first rows of the first table and the stream of data corresponding to second rows of the external table.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for streaming external data in parallel from a second distributed system to a first distributed system. One of the methods includes receiving a query that requests a join of first rows of a first table in a first distributed system with second rows of an external table, the external table representing data in a second distributed system. Each of the segment nodes communicates with a respective extension service that obtains fragments from one or more data nodes of the second distributed system according to location information for the respective fragments, and provides to the segment node a stream of data corresponding to second rows of the external table. Each of the segment nodes computes joined rows between the first rows of the first table and the stream of data corresponding to second rows of the external table.

Abstract: A cloud manager monitors available resources on host computer systems, including a number of hardware threads supported by CPUs on the host computer systems. The cloud manager receives a request to provision a virtual machine (VM) that includes a hardware multithreading parameter that specifies the amount of hardware multithreading required on the host computer system. The cloud manager then selects a host computer system for the VM taking the hardware multithreading parameter into consideration.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and an apparatus for forwarding traffic of a switching system. The switching system includes a first LCC, at least one second LCC, and at least one third LCC that are interconnected according to a mesh form topology; and the method includes: receiving, by the first LCC, a packet, and parsing the packet to acquire a destination address of the packet; and when the destination address indicates that the packet is to be sent to the third LCC, if a currently preset configuration mode of the switching system is a first configuration mode, bearing, by the first LCC, the packet on a third link, and forwarding the packet to the third LCC, where the first configuration mode indicates that an N-hop mode is currently applied to the switching system, where N is a natural number greater than or equal to 3.

Abstract: A cloud manager monitors available resources on host computer systems, including a number of hardware threads supported by CPUs on the host computer systems and whether or not the CPUs have split core enabled. The cloud manager receives a request to provision a virtual machine (VM) that includes a hardware multithreading parameter that specifies whether hardware multithreading is allowed on the host computer system. The cloud manager then selects a host computer system for the VM taking into consideration the hardware multithreading parameter, the hardware threads supported by the CPU, and the split core settings. The VM is then placed on the selected host computer system using the hardware multithreading parameter. The result is more efficient utilization of CPU resources in a host for a virtual machine.

Abstract: In computing systems that provide multiple computing domains configured to operate according to an active-standby model, techniques are provided for intentionally biasing the race to gain mastership between competing computing domains, which determines which computing domain operates in the active mode, in favor of a particular computer domain. The race to gain mastership may be biased in favor of a computing domain operating in a particular mode prior to the occurrence of the event that triggered the race to gain mastership. For example, in certain embodiments, the race to mastership may be biased in favor of the computing domain that was operating in the active mode prior to the occurrence of an event that triggered the race to gain mastership.

Abstract: An example method is provided for a network device to protect a Media Access Control (MAC) address table of a network switch in a virtualized computing environment. The method may comprise, in response to receiving a request message from a virtual machine, determining a shared MAC address that is usable for the virtual machine and at least one other virtual machine, modifying a source MAC address of the request message from a MAC address associated with the virtual machine to the shared MAC address; and sending, to the network switch, the request message having the shared MAC address as the modified source MAC address. The method may comprise, in response to receiving a reply message from the network switch, the reply message having the shared MAC address as a destination MAC address, sending, to the virtual machine, the reply message in reply to the request message.