Abstract: A plurality of server computers in a network that includes load balancing processes to enhance performance employs a non-performance related variable, such as power consumption, and modifies the load balancing processes in response to the reading of the non-performance variable. Such variables do not affect the response and performance as perceived by a browsing client but do provide other advantages with in the environment as a whole. The non-performance related variable is employed such that one or more of said server computers are de-activated to reduce power consumption, and the load balancing processes balance load across the remaining active server computers.

Abstract: A network device provides priority map storage configured to store one or more mapping data structures for mapping multiple priorities of a first priority scheme to multiple priorities of a second priority scheme. In addition, mapping logic of the network devices is coupled to the priority map storage and configured to translate a first priority of a first frame of the first priority scheme to a second priority of the second priority scheme and to assign the second priority to a second frame carrying payload of the first frame in preparation of transmission of the second frame in accordance with the second priority scheme.

Abstract: A global server load balancing (GSLB) switch serves as a proxy to an authoritative DNS communicates with numerous site switches which are coupled to host servers serving specific applications. The GSLB switch receives from site switches operational information regarding host servers within the site switches neighborhood. When a client program requests a resolution of a host name, the GSLB switch, acting as a proxy of an authoritative DNS, returns one or more ordered IP addresses for the host name. The IP addresses are ordered using metrics that include the information collected from the site switches. In one instance, the GSLB switch places the address that is deemed “best” at the top of the list.

Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention, multicast traffic is simultaneously routed via all switches participating in the trunk (can be referred to as partner switches). A respective partner switch synchronizes the local multicast state information with all other partner switches. For a respective multicast group, a plurality of partner switches can be the part of the corresponding multicast distribution tree and obtain multicast traffic from uplink sources. For the multicast group, only one partner switch is elected as the primary forwarder which forwards the multicast traffic via the trunk. Another partner switch can become the primary forwarder for the multicast traffic of another multicast group and provide load sharing of multicast traffic between partner switches. Furthermore, because the partner switches have the multicast traffic and state readily available, in the event of a switch or link failure to the primary forwarder, another partner switch can readily become the primary forwarder.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for monitoring and diagnosis of a network comprising one or more devices. In some embodiments, techniques are provided for gathering network information, analyzing the gathered information to identify correlations, and for diagnosing a problem based upon the correlations. The diagnosis may identify a root cause of the problem. In certain embodiments, a computing device may be configurable to determine a first event from information, allocate a first event to a first cluster, the first cluster is from one or more clusters of events, based on a set of attributes for the first event, and determine a set of attributes for the first cluster, and rank the first cluster against the other clusters from the one or more clusters of events based on the set of attributes for the first cluster. The set of attributes may be indicative of the relationship between events in the cluster.

Abstract: An electronic device includes one or more electronic components and an electronic enclosure enclosing the electronic components. The electronic enclosure includes venting holes and flaps blocking visibility of the electronic components through the venting holes and from outside the electronic device. In addition, air readily flows through the venting holes providing adequate cooling of the electronic device.

Abstract: A system and method in a packet network for optimally separating control and data in the context of mobile networking. The embodiments disclosed herein utilize virtualization and elastic computing in the context of a control plane while the user plane flexibility is realized by application programming interfaces (APIs) between a control and user plane. The control plane is configured to receive a notification that a mobile device is done sending or receiving a communication; store in a flow table flow information associated with the communication; receive a trigger for resumption of flow when the communication is to be resumed; and pass the flow information to a cache in a data plane.

Abstract: A network element having a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) Node Selection Function for discriminating information in order to determine which core network node a signaling message should be sent comprising: a network interface unit configured to interact with a packet network system; a processor with a memory associated with the network interface unit and adapted to: receive the signaling message from an eNB at a selection function; extract header information from Stream Control Transport Protocol (SCTP) of the signaling message; communicate with a database having a persistent application map to determine if there is an association between the header information and a core network entity; if there is an association, forward the signaling message to a selected core network entity; and determine at the selected core network entity which one of a plurality of core network nodes within a core network pool to route the message based on availability of the plurality of core network nodes.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide techniques that enable messages to be sent to a processing entity within a computing device without knowing the network address of the processing entity. In certain embodiments, instead of using the network address of the processing entity, a message can be communicated to the processing entity using information indicative of a role or state or function performed by the processing entity.

Abstract: An intelligent system and an algorithm at a packet network to reduce the amount of signaling in the radio access network and core network is defined. The system collects all the necessary information from the signaling exchange between the radio access network and the core network and takes the subscription characteristics and policy information into consideration to choose the optimal way of reducing the amount of signaling including selecting the optimal bearers for certain types of communications and paging selected area instead of the whole area for each device. The bearer selection algorithm takes several things as input to choose the optimal bearer to perform the task.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for mapping all possible paths between a source node and a destination node. During operation, the system receives a management frame, determines all possible next-hop nodes based on a destination address carried in the payload of the management frame. The system then selects one of the next-hop nodes, and modifies payload of the received management frame to include information associated with the next-hop nodes and the selected next-hop node. The system then forwards the modified data frame to the selected next-hop node.

Abstract: Subsets of isolated communications networks are selectively merged without merging the entire isolated communications networks, and devices are imported across isolated communications networks without merging the isolated communications networks. The presently disclosed technology provides for improved scalability, performance, and security in logical networks spanning two or more physical communications networks.

Abstract: Techniques for simplifying stacking trunk creation and management are provided. In one embodiment, a switch in a stacking system can receive first and second control packets from one or more other switches in the stacking system, where the first and second control packets are received on first and second stacking ports of the switch respectively. The switch can then determine, based on the first and second control packets, whether the first and second stacking ports can be configured as a single stacking trunk.

Abstract: An interfabric link between two separate Fiber Channel fabrics so that devices in one fabric can communicate with devices in another fabric without requiring the merger of the two fabrics. The interfabric switch performs a conversion or a translation of device addresses in each fabric so that they are accessible to the other fabric. In a first embodiment the external ports of the interfabric switch are configured as E_ports. A series of internal ports in each interfabric switch are joined together forming a series of virtual or logical switches. In a second embodiment the external ports are configured as NL_ports and the connections between the virtual switches are E_ports. The virtual switches in the interfabric switch match domains with their external counterparts so that the virtual switches effectively form their own fabric.

Abstract: The entire FCoE fabric is a single virtual domain, even though there may be multiple FCFs and FDFs. The virtual domain is a different Domain_ID than any of the FCFs. In certain embodiments there are multiple FCFs, of which one is selected as the master or designated FCF. The master FCF performs normal fabric configuration in conjunction with the Fiber Channel fabric. The master FCF assigns the virtual domain FC node IDs and controls development of subdomain IDs. Virtual links are instantiated between the master FCF and other FCFs, between top level FDFs and the FCFs and between the FDFs at each of various levels. FDFs connected to ENodes proxy the master FCF for most FIP operations. FIP FLOGI and FDISC operations are handled by the master FDF, but the FDFs convert the FIP FLOGI requests to VD_FLOGI requests, which include information about the FDF handling the transaction.

Abstract: Techniques for provisioning single or multistage networks using Ethernet Service Instances (ESIs). In one embodiment, an ESI is a logical entity or object that stores information that may be used to provision a network. An ESI may represent a logical entity that identifies a grouping of elements of a network or network device and associated attributes. Hierarchical relationships may be created between ESIs. The hierarchical relationships are used to perform packet-level processing including performing network packet encapsulations.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates quality of service (QoS) in a Fiber Channel (FC) host bus adaptor (HBA). In this system the bandwidth on an FC link between the HBA and the FC switch can be allocated into a plurality of logical channels, and a respective logical channel can transport data frames of variable length. Furthermore, a respective logical channel is associated with a dedicated buffer. During operation, the HBA communicates to an FC switch the HBA's capability of receiving or sending a data flow over a logical channel that couples the HBA to the FC switch. The HBA further receives logical-channel allocation information from the FC switch. Furthermore, the HBA associates data frames with a logical channel and transmits data frames to the FC switch on the corresponding logical channel.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch. The switch includes a tunnel management module, a packet processor, and a forwarding module. The tunnel management module operates the switch as a tunnel gateway capable of terminating an overlay tunnel. During operation, the packet processor, which is coupled to the tunnel management module, identifies in a data packet a virtual Internet Protocol (IP) address associated with a virtual tunnel gateway. This virtual tunnel gateway is associated with the switch and the data packet is associated with the overlay tunnel. The forwarding module determines an output port for an inner packet in the data packet based on a destination address of the inner packet.

Abstract: A switch creates and dynamically updates a latency map of a network to adjust routing of flows. Further, the network is monitored to detect latency issues and trigger a dynamic adjustment of routing based on the latency map. In this manner, a flow can be routed along a route (i.e., a faster route) that provides less latency than other available routes. The latency map can be generated based on latency probe packets that are issued from and returned to the source switch. By evaluating many such latent probe packets that have traveled along many available routes (e.g., corresponding to various ports of the switch), the switch or associated administrative logic can dynamically adjust the latency map to updated latency information of available routes. Therefore, responsive to a trigger, the source switch can dynamically adjust the routing of a flow based on latency issues discerned from the network.

Abstract: Virtual machine environments are provided in the switches that form a network, with the virtual machines executing network services previously performed by dedicated appliances. The virtual machines can be executed on a single multi-core processor in combination with normal switch functions or on dedicated services processor boards. Packet processors analyze incoming packets and add a services tag containing services entries to any packets. Each switch reviews the services tag and performs any network services resident on that switch. This allows services to be deployed at the optimal locations in the network. The network services may be deployed by use of drag and drop operations. A topology view is presented, along with network services that may be deployed. Services may be selected and dragged to a single switch or multiple switches. The management tool deploys the network services software, with virtual machines being instantiated on the switches as needed.