Abstract: A packet forwarding network may include switches that forward network packets between end hosts. A monitoring network may be coupled to the forwarding network. A controller may control switches in the monitoring network to forward network packets tapped from the forwarding network to network flow information generation circuitry. The controller may provide configuration information such as record description information to the network flow information generation circuitry. Based on the configuration information, the network flow information generation circuitry may dynamically generate instructions that generate network flow information records. A set of network flow information records may be stored in a repository at the network flow information generation circuitry. The repository may include hash values associated with each of the stored network flow information records.

Abstract: Systems and methods for building a monitoring fabric are described. The system receives a duplicate of a first portion of traffic information from a first network as first traffic information and communicates the first traffic information in the monitoring fabric. The first traffic information is communicated to a controller that configures the monitoring fabric. The system receives a duplicate of a second portion of the traffic information from the first network as second traffic information. The system forwards the second traffic information to at least one tool.

Abstract: A packet forwarding network may include spine and leaf switches that forward network traffic between end hosts that are coupled to the packet forwarding network. A controller may control the switches in the forwarding network to implement desired forwarding paths. The packet forwarding network may additionally include access switches that are directly connected to edge switches to form access switch groups. The access switches may also be controlled by the controller. End hosts may be coupled to access switches as well as leaf switches to extend the reach of the packet forwarding network. Additionally, the access switches may include access-leaf switches and access-edge switches to improve network routing capabilities and network flexibility.

Abstract: In various example embodiments, a system, a method, and a machine readable medium to manage multicast traffic are disclosed. The system includes a controller server for receiving first multicast group member information and for providing centralized control of a network. The first multicast group member information is received from a first end-host computer and received at the controller server responsive to a first packet forwarding system identifying the first end-host computer is joining a first multicast group on a first virtual network. The controller server generates a first multicast tree and communicates a first network configuration message to at least one packet forwarding system of the first plurality of packet forwarding systems. The first network configuration message includes a packet flow table entry enabling configuration of a flow table to enable communication of multicast traffic for the first multicast group over a portion of the first multicast tree.

Abstract: Systems and methods to scale a network monitoring fabric are described. The system uploads a virtual tool, over a network, to a monitoring fabric. The monitoring fabric includes a first plurality of switches including a second plurality of switches for monitoring a production network. Next, the system configures the monitoring fabric to receive a first portion of traffic information from the production network and communicate the first portion of traffic information to the virtual tool. Next, the system receives a duplicate of the first portion of the traffic information from the production network as first traffic information. The first traffic information is received at a first ingress interface providing access to the monitoring fabric. Finally, the system forwards the first traffic information in the monitoring fabric to the first instance of the first virtual tool.