Abstract: Network policies that control the flow of traffic through a network may be implemented using a controller server that controls a network of switches. Based on network packet attributes, the controller server may identify network policies that are associated with the network traffic. The controller server may identify dependencies between the network policies based on priorities that are associated with the network policies and overlap between the network policies. The controller server may provide the switches with packet forwarding rules based on the identified dependencies between the network policies, network switch attributes, and network switch capabilities. The packet forwarding rules may implement network policies for current network traffic and future network traffic.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 27, 2011
Date of Patent:
April 8, 2014
Assignee:
Big Switch Network, Inc.
Inventors:
Robert Edward Adams, Mandeep Singh Dhami, Robert W. Sherwood, Daniel E. Talayco, Shudong Zhou