Abstract: Systems and techniques for processing and/or forwarding packets are described. An ingress switch can use a QoS mapping mechanism to map a first set of Quality of Service (QoS) bits in a packet received from a customer to a second set of QoS bits for use in a Transparent Interconnection of Lots of Links (TRILL) packet which encapsulates the packet. The first set of QoS bits can be different from the second set of QoS bits. The TRILL packet can be processed and/or forwarded in the network based on the second set of QoS bits. At the egress switch, the TRILL packet can be decapsulated and the original packet with the original QoS bits (or QoS bits that are different from the original QoS bits) can be forwarded to the customer's network. In this manner, some embodiments of the present invention can preserve the QoS bits across a TRILL network.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system. The system includes a high availability module and a data transformation module. During operation, the high availability module identifies a modified object belonging to an application in a second system. A modification to the modified object is associated with a transaction identifier. The high availability module also identifies a local object corresponding to the modified object associated with a standby application corresponding to the application in the second system. The data transformation module automatically transforms the value of the modified object to a value assignable to the local object, including pointer conversion to point to equivalent object of the second system. The high availability module updates the current value of the local object with the transformed value.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch. The switch includes a multicast management module, a storage module, and a recovery module. During operation, the multicast management module represents multicast information from one or more entries of a multicast data structure in a way that the switch can derive its multicast states from the multicast information. The storage module stores the multicast information in a recovery file in a local persistent storage device. If the switch reboots, the recovery module restores the multicast states of the switch from the multicast information in the recovery file.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for retaining a removable module (such as a memory card) in engagement with an interface structure of a printed circuit board (PCB). The PCB is coupled to a tray, wherein the module is positioned between the PCB and the tray. The tray includes one or more forms configured to receive the module, and prevent the module from moving out of engagement with the interface structure of the PCB. A first form includes a depressed region formed in the tray, wherein the module is fitted within the depressed region. A slot, which extends through the tray, may be located adjacent to the depressed region, wherein an edge of the slot restricts movement of the module. A second form may include a raised lip, which is located adjacent to the module, and restricts movement of the module.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch which comprises one or more ports adapted to receive packets. The switch is a member of a network of interconnected switches, and also comprises a path monitoring apparatus adapted to: in response to a control packet associated with a session within a predetermined time interval, set a receive indicator for the switch to an active state; and in response to absence of the control packet associated with the session within the predetermined time interval, set the receive indicator for the switch to an inactive state. The path monitoring apparatus is also adapted to set a path state associated with the session based on the receive indicators for the switch and other member switches. The switch also comprises a broadcast apparatus adapted to broadcast at least the receive indicator for the switch to the other member switches.

Abstract: An analytics and diagnostic node according to the present disclosure monitors oversubscription and determines flow metrics by receiving mirror command frames from one or more switching nodes. The mirror command frames could correspond to a multiple flows traversing over a connection within a network. The analytics and diagnostic node collects at least one latency metric for each of the flows using timestamps found within the mirror command frames. Based on the latency metrics and timestamps, the analytic diagnostic node determines an average data rate for each of the flows. The analytics and diagnostic node also computes the cumulative data rates corresponding to different bucket intervals based on the average data rates. To detect oversubscription, the analytics and diagnostic node compares the cumulative data rates with one or more oversubscription rules.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a computing system capable of providing feedback to a controller in a software-defined network. The computing system includes a policy management module and a communication module coupled to the policy management module. During operation, the policy management module recognizes a local policy indicating how a data flow is to be processed and identifies a data flow associated with the policy. The communication module constructs a request for a flow definition from a controller in a software-defined network. A flow definition indicates how the data flow is processed in the software-defined network.

Abstract: A switch according to the present invention can have a number of ports in an ASIC greater than the ASIC clock speed divided by the network protocol rate. The switch ASIC contains multiple blocks, each block having a number of ports equal to the ASIC clock speed divided the packet rate of the protocol. Each block has a number of queues equal to the total number of ports on the ASIC to receive packets. The queues are scheduled from each block into a number of outputs equal to the number of blocks. The outputs of each block are received by a scheduler which evaluates the packets available at the outputs of each block to determine the combination of outputs which provides the most connections that are ready for transmission. The combination with the most connections is then utilized to provide packets to the egress section of each block.

Abstract: An analytics and diagnostic node according to the present disclosure monitors oversubscription and determines flow metrics by receiving mirror command frames from one or more switching nodes. The mirror command frames could correspond to a multiple flows traversing over a connection within a network. The analytics and diagnostic node collects at least one latency metric for each of the flows using timestamps found within the mirror command frames. Based on the latency metrics and timestamps, the analytic diagnostic node determines an average data rate for each of the flows. The analytics and diagnostic node also computes the cumulative data rates corresponding to different bucket intervals based on the average data rates. To detect oversubscription, the analytics and diagnostic node compares the cumulative data rates with one or more oversubscription rules.

Abstract: A diagnostic testing utility is used to perform single link diagnostics tests including an electrical loopback test, an optical loopback test, a link traffic test, and a link distance measurement test. To perform the diagnostic tests, two ports at each end of a link are identified and then statically configured by a user. The ports will be configured as D_Ports and as such will be isolated from the fabric with no data traffic flowing through them. The ports will then be used to send test frames to perform the diagnostic tests.

Abstract: Techniques for performing intelligent load balancer selection in a multi-load balancer environment are provided. In one embodiment, a computer system can generate a user interface for deploying a virtual IP address (VIP) on a load balancer in a network environment, where the network environment includes a plurality of load balancers, and where the user interface presents a plurality of criteria for selecting one of the plurality of load balancers. The computer system can further receive, from a user, a selection of one or more of the plurality of criteria, and can collect, from each load balancer in the plurality of load balancers, statistics that are relevant to the one or more criteria. The computer system can then select a load balancer from among the plurality of load balancers based on the one or more criteria and the collected statistics.

Abstract: The SACK scoreboard is used in slow recovery and the SACK scoreboard and an application programmed timeout are used to determine the initial CWND in slow recovery. The CWND is calculated so that all packets will be recovered before the application times out. A new socket option is provided for an application to program an application timeout (say APP_TO). This value is used in conjunction with the RTT (round trip time) to determine the initial CWND value to insure completion before timeout. Along with the timeout, the application can also set the mode as “soft,” where the CWND value is set to “1” as conventional but when that packet is ACKed, the CWND value is increased immediately to a modified calculated value to allow timely recovery.

Abstract: A diagnostic testing utility is used to perform single link diagnostics tests including an electrical loopback test, an optical loopback test, a link traffic test, and a link distance measurement test. To perform the diagnostic tests, two ports at each end of a link are identified and then statically configured by a user. The ports will be configured as D_Ports and as such will be isolated from the fabric with no data traffic flowing through them. This configuration can be static or can be on request or on errors. The ports will then be used to send test frames to perform the diagnostic tests. After completion of requested or on error testing the ports can return to normal operation.

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: One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch. The switch includes a port to couple to a second switch. The switch also includes a control mechanism configured to maintain a set of configuration information for a virtual cluster switch which includes a number of member switches. The set of configuration information includes global configuration information for the virtual cluster switch and switch-specific configuration information for one or more member switches. In addition, the set of configuration information is replicated and stored at each member switch.

Abstract: A switch can reduce power consumption in a switch network by disabling under-utilized links between switches. The switch can include one or more line cards each operable to transmit and receive packets over a respective link to a remote switch. The switch can also comprise a control mechanism operable to place under-utilized links in standby mode whenever possible to conserve power. During operation, the switch can receive a standby request for placing a first link to a neighboring switch in a standby mode, and determines whether one or more eligible links to the neighboring switch can accommodate traffic from the first link. If the eligible links are able to accommodate traffic from the first link, and if the local switch and the neighboring switch agree to place the first link in standby mode, the local switch proceeds to place the first link in standby mode.

Abstract: Techniques for dynamically cloning application infrastructures are provided. In one embodiment, a computer system can monitor one or more metrics pertaining to an infrastructure for an application at a first site. If the one or more metrics exceed or fall below one or more corresponding thresholds, the computer system can clone the infrastructure at a second site distinct from the first site, thereby enabling the application to be hosted at the second site.

Abstract: A novel fabric switch is provided. The switch includes a tunnel management apparatus that maintains a local inter-switch tunnel and an inter-fabric tunnel. The local inter-switch tunnel facilitates communication to a switch in a local fabric switch. The inter-fabric tunnel facilitates communication to a remote fabric switch. The switch further includes a packet header management apparatus that decapsulates a packet received from the local inter-switch tunnel and encapsulates the packet with a new tunnel header for transmission over the inter-fabric tunnel.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch. The switch includes a fabric switch module and a learning module. The fabric switch module maintains a membership in a first fabric switch. A fabric switch includes a plurality of switches and operates as a single switch. The first fabric switch is in an extended fabric switch which further comprises a second fabric switch. The learning module identifies from a notification message from the second fabric switch a media access control (MAC) address learned at the second fabric switch. The learning module stores the MAC address in a local MAC table in association with an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the second fabric switch.

Abstract: Techniques for facilitating port mirroring in virtual networks are provided. In one embodiment, a computer system can receive, from a user, port mirroring configuration information for enabling port mirroring within a virtual network, the port mirroring configuration information including an identity of a port to be mirrored and an address of a traffic receiver intended to receive traffic mirrored from the port. The computer system can further power-on a virtual machine (VM) within the virtual network in response to receiving the port mirroring configuration information, where the VM executes an instance of a virtual bridge. The computer system can then transmit one or more configuration commands to the virtual bridge, where the one or more configuration commands cause the virtual bridge to perform port mirroring in accordance with the port mirroring configuration information received from the user.