Abstract: Described are various configurations of high-speed via structures. Various embodiments can reduce or entirely eliminate insertion loss in high-speed signal processing environments by using impedance compensation structures that decrease a mismatch in components of a circuit. An impedance compensation structure can include a metallic structure placed near a via to lower an impedance difference between the via and a conductive pathway connected to the via.

Abstract: Techniques are described for multicast flow prioritization in protocol independent multicast (PIM) networks with multicast flow limits. According to the disclosed techniques, once a router has reached its multicast flow limit, the router may preempt an installed lower priority multicast flow with a newly requested higher priority multicast flow. For example, if a maximum number of multicast flows are installed on the router, then, upon receiving a PIM join for a higher priority flow as compared to the installed flows, the router replaces one of the installed lower priority flows with the received higher priority flow. Furthermore, according to the disclosed techniques, priority values for multicast flows are consistent across a PIM domain and each of the routers within the PIM domain is configured to use the priority values to select a higher priority flow over a lower priority flow.

Abstract: A data center network can include numerous switches, routers and servers to deliver services to customers. The network devices in the data center may be automatically discovered through various discovery workflows. Once discovered, hardware configuration information for the network devices may be stored in a database. Additionally, an administrator may assign roles to the network devices. The hardware configuration information may be matched with features provided by software images. A server may select a software image from a variety of candidate software images by matching the features provided by the software images and the hardware supported by the software images to the hardware configurations and roles of the network devices. Thus, new network devices may be deployed and provisioned to data center in a standardized and automated way. Further, existing network devices may be upgraded or reconfigured in a standardized and automated way.

Abstract: In one example, a network management system (NMS) device manages a plurality of network devices. The NMS device includes one or more processing units, implemented using digital logic circuitry, configured to receive configuration data for a plurality of network devices managed by the NMS device, construct a graph database representing the configuration data, wherein to construct the graph database, the one or more processing units are configured to construct a plurality of vertices representing respective elements of the configuration data, and connect related vertices of the plurality of vertices with edges. The one or more processing units are further configured to manage the plurality of network devices using the graph database.

Abstract: In general, techniques are described for selecting types of switches and corresponding input/output methods for virtualized network functions (VNFs) of a network service and selecting one or more host computing devices to host the VNFs for the network service to realize the selected types of switches and corresponding input/output methods for the VNFs. For example, a controller that performs aspects of NFV management and orchestration (MANO) receives requirements for a network service to be provisioned in the NFVI. Based on the requirements for the network service, which may specify one or VNFs and may specify individual requirements for each VNF, the controller selects a type of switch and corresponding input/output method for each VNF.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention describe flexible (i.e., elastic) data center architectures capable of meeting exascale, while maintaining low latency and using reasonable sizes of electronic packet switches, through the use of optical circuit switches such as optical time, wavelength, waveband and space circuit switching technologies. This flexible architecture enables the reconfigurability of the interconnectivity of servers and storage devices within a data center to respond to the number, size, type and duration of the various applications being requested at any given point in time.

Abstract: A network node may determine parameters of an authenticated client session for a client device, wherein the parameters comprise a network address of the client device. The network node may determine inactivity of the client device in the authenticated client session. The network node may generate, based on determining the inactivity of the client device, an address resolution protocol (ARP) message or a neighbor solicitation (NS) message to send to the client device, wherein the ARP message or the NS message is to trigger a response from the client device to indicate that the network address of the client device is in use. The network node may provide, toward the client device, the ARP message or the NS message. The network node may perform one or more actions based on receiving or not receiving the response, from the client device, to the ARP message or the NS message.

Abstract: In general, techniques are described for detecting duplicate hardware addresses in network devices of a computer network. A network device sends a request message on a network, the request message specifying the range of hardware addresses starting from the target hardware address. A network device determines whether at least a subset of the range of hardware addresses starting from the target hardware address is available based on response messages received from other network devices. The network device then reserves the available addresses for assigning to virtual machines (VMs) executing on the network device.

Abstract: The disclosed computer-implemented method may include (1) receiving, at a network device, a route update for one or more routes that direct traffic within a network that supports BGP, (2) identifying, within the route update, a BGP prefix and a plurality of protocol next-hop addresses that (A) identify a plurality of neighbors of the network device and (B) each correspond to the BGP prefix, (3) maintaining a single copy of the BGP prefix and each of the protocol next-hop addresses, (4) receiving a packet destined for a computing device that is reachable via at least one of the neighbors of the network device, and then (5) forwarding the packet to the one of the neighbors of the network device in accordance with the BGP prefix and the protocol next-hop address that identifies the one of the neighbors. Various other methods, systems, and apparatuses are also disclosed.

Abstract: A network function virtualization (NFV) platform may include one or more processors to identify a condition associated with the NFV platform, where the condition may affect operation of at least one virtual network function (VNF) hosted by or associated with the NFV platform; determine, based on the condition, information that may be provided or an action that may be performed with regard to the at least one VNF, and/or generate or transmit a message identifying the information and/or that may cause the action to be performed with regard to the at least one VNF.

Abstract: A ternary phase shift keying transmitter and receiver can efficiently communicate using ternary encoded data that avoids indistinguishable transition curves for each of the three modulated states in the ternary encoded data. The transmitter is interoperable and can function with different types of receivers including direct detection-based receivers and coherent detection-based receivers.

Abstract: A disclosed method may include (1) generating a test packet that includes an inner packet encapsulated within an outer packet, (2) adding, to the test packet, an amount of padding data that increases a total size of the test packet to a certain threshold, (3) forwarding, via a transport layer protocol, the test packet along a network path that leads from a source node to a destination node by way of a tunnel, (4) receiving the inner packet from the destination node after the destination node extracts the inner packet from the test packet, and (5) determining, based at least in part on receiving the inner packet from the destination node, that a maximum transmission unit of the network path is greater than or equal to the total size of the test packet as increased by the amount of padding data. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Techniques are described for automatic discovery of two or more virtual service instances configured to apply a given service to a packet in a software-defined networking (SDN)/network functions virtualization (NFV) environment. Virtual service instances may be deployed as virtual entities hosted on one or more physical devices to offer individual services or chains of services from a service provider. The use of virtual service instances enables automatic scaling of the services on-demand. The techniques of this disclosure enable automatic discovery by a gateway network device of virtual service instances for a given service as load balancing entities. According to the techniques, the gateway network device automatically updates a load balancing group for the given service to include the discovered virtual service instances on which to load balance traffic for the service. In this way, the disclosed techniques provide auto-scaling and auto-discovery of services in an SDN/NFV environment.

Abstract: A method includes modulating a digital signal via pulse amplitude modulation (PAM) and applying Nyquist shaping to the digital signal to generate a filtered digital signal. The method also includes converting the filtered digital signal into an analog signal and transmitting the analog signal in an optical communication channel via a dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) scheme.

Abstract: In general, techniques are described for a dynamic prefix list for route filtering. In one example, a network device comprises a control unit comprising one or more processors; one or more interface cards coupled to the control unit; a routing protocol process configured to execute on the control unit to exchange, using the interface cards, routing protocol advertisements with a peer network device in accordance with a routing protocol; and a configuration database comprising a routing policy that references a dynamic prefix list comprising one or more prefixes. The routing policy includes at least one action for application to routes for import or export, by the network device via a routing protocol, that match any of the one or more prefixes of the dynamic prefix list. The dynamic prefix list comprises a routing table to store the one or more prefixes, the routing table separate from the configuration database.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for estimating a location of a wireless device. In some embodiments, received signal strength indication (RSSI) values of signals from a first wireless device are determined. A rate of motion of the first wireless device is then determined based on a rate at which the RSSI values vary with time. A machine learning model is conditionally updated based on the determined rate of motion, and path loss parameters are then derived from the machine learning model. The path loss parameters are used to estimate the location of the first wireless device.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus relating to the detection of one or more devices in zones, e.g., non-overlapping areas, are described. Individual device locations are made based on RSSI information. Whether a user is determined to be in a zone or not is determined based on location determinations corresponding to the device. Thresholds used to determine whether a device is to be considered as being within a zone differs depending on whether the device is newly detected in the zone or is already determined to be in the zone. In some embodiments it is easier to be determined to be in a zone than to be determined to have left a zone. A device may be determined to be in two non-overlapping zones at the same time thereby increasing the chance that devices in edge areas will be counted with regard to the number of devices for which resources should be provided.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for identifying the root cause of deterioration of system level experience (SLE). Offending network components that caused the SLE deterioration are identified and corrective actions are taken.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer (ROADM) to receive a first optical signal and a second ROADM to receive a second optical signal. The apparatus also includes a reconfigurable optical switch that includes a first switch, switchable between a first state and a second state, to transmit the first optical signal at the first state and block the first optical signal at the second state. The reconfigurable optical switch also includes a second switch, switchable between the first state and the second state, to transmit the second optical signal at the first state and block the second optical signal at the second state. The reconfigurable optical switch also includes an output port to transmit an output signal that is a sum of possible optical signals transmitted through the first switch and the second switch.