Abstract: A method and apparatus of a network element that processes a packet in the network element is described. In an exemplary embodiment, the network element receives a data packet that includes a destination address. The network element receives a packet, with a packet switch unit, wherein the packet was received by the network element on an ingress interface. The network element further determines if the packet is to be stored in an external queue. In addition, the network element identifies the external queue for the packet based on one or more characteristics of the packet. The network element additionally forwards the packet to a packet storage unit, wherein the packet storage unit includes storage for the external queue. Furthermore, the network element receives the packet from the packet storage unit and forwards the packet to an egress interface corresponding to the external queue.

Abstract: A method for processing network communications, the method including receiving a network packet at a network device and performing at least one lookup for the packet in one or more first lookup tables in which the one or more first lookup tables are programmed to include at least one of an exact match or longest prefix match (LPM) table entry. The method includes obtaining a security source segment and a security destination segment based upon the result of the at least one lookup for the packet in the one or more first lookup tables. The method further includes performing a lookup in a second lookup table based upon the security source segment and security destination segment in which the second lookup table is programmed in a content addressable memory. Based upon the result of the lookup in the second lookup table, processing a forwarding decision for the packet according to the security source segment and security destination segment.

Abstract: A command line interface in a network device provides for specifying Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) tag manipulations using range mappings to avoid error-prone repetitive configuration. A flexible VLAN tag range mapping is described, where the original and transformed ranges can be specified for both inner and outer positions, as long as the number of tags on either side of the transformation is the same.

Abstract: In general, embodiments of the invention relate to routing packets between hosts or virtual machines in different layer 2 domains. More specifically, embodiments of the invention relate to using overlay routing mechanisms in an Internet Protocol (IP) fabric to enable communication between hosts or virtual machines in different layer 2 domains to communication. The overlay routing mechanisms may include direct routing, indirect routing, naked routing, or a combination thereof (e.g., hybrid routing).

Abstract: A method for processing network communications, the method including receiving a network packet at a network device and performing at least one lookup for the packet in one or more first lookup tables in which the one or more first lookup tables are programmed to include at least one of an exact match or longest prefix match (LPM) table entry. The method includes obtaining a security source segment and a security destination segment based upon the result of the at least one lookup for the packet in the one or more first lookup tables. The method further includes performing a lookup in a second lookup table based upon the security source segment and security destination segment in which the second lookup table is programmed in a content addressable memory. Based upon the result of the lookup in the second lookup table, processing a forwarding decision for the packet according to the security source segment and security destination segment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of a network element that processes a packet in the network element is described. In an exemplary embodiment, the network element receives a data packet that includes a destination address. The network element receives a packet, with a packet switch unit, wherein the packet was received by the network element on an ingress interface. The network element further determines if the packet is to be stored in an external queue. In addition, the network element identifies the external queue for the packet based on one or more characteristics of the packet. The network element additionally forwards the packet to a packet storage unit, wherein the packet storage unit includes storage for the external queue. Furthermore, the network element receives the packet from the packet storage unit and forwards the packet to an egress interface corresponding to the external queue.

Abstract: In general, embodiments of the invention relate to routing packets between hosts or virtual machines in different layer 2 domains. More specifically, embodiments of the invention relate to using overlay routing mechanisms in an Internet Protocol (IP) fabric to enable communication between hosts or virtual machines in different layer 2 domains to communication. The overlay routing mechanisms may include direct routing, indirect routing, naked routing, or a combination thereof (e.g., hybrid routing).

Abstract: A method for processing network communications, the method including receiving a network packet at a network device and performing at least one lookup for the packet in one or more first lookup tables in which the one or more first lookup tables are programmed to include at least one of an exact match or longest prefix match (LPM) table entry. The method includes obtaining a security source segment and a security destination segment based upon the result of the at least one lookup for the packet in the one or more first lookup tables. The method further includes performing a lookup in a second lookup table based upon the security source segment and security destination segment in which the second lookup table is programmed in a content addressable memory. Based upon the result of the lookup in the second lookup table, processing a forwarding decision for the packet according to the security source segment and security destination segment.

Abstract: A network device includes a first agent programmed to provide a functionality of the network device. The network device also includes a message bus, distinct from the first agent, that identifies an update associated with the first agent, the update includes differential state information based, at least in part, on a state of the first agent, the state of the first agent is stored in a data structure exclusively managed by the first agent; in response to identifying the update: identifies a second agent that is subscribed to the first agent; and performs an action set to provide the second agent with access to the update.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of a network element that processes a packet in the network element is described. In an exemplary embodiment, the network element receives a data packet that includes a destination address. The network element receives a packet, with a packet switch unit, wherein the packet was received by the network element on an ingress interface. The network element further determines if the packet is to be stored in an external queue. In addition, the network element identifies the external queue for the packet based on one or more characteristics of the packet. The network element additionally forwards the packet to a packet storage unit, wherein the packet storage unit includes storage for the external queue. Furthermore, the network element receives the packet from the packet storage unit and forwards the packet to an egress interface corresponding to the external queue.

Abstract: Various embodiments are described herein, which provide a network element comprising a network port to receive production network data that is used for purposes other than testing the performance of a network, a data plane coupled to the network port, the data plane including a timing module to append a time stamp to a set of one or more time stamps included within the production network data, and a control plane coupled to the data plane, the control plane including a latency analyzer to analyze the set of one or more time stamps included within the production network data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of a device that starts an address resolution service on a network element after a boot-up of this network element is described. In an exemplary embodiment, the network element sends an indication of the boot-up. The network element further sends a request for an address resolution table and receives a reply with the requested address resolution table. In addition, the network element starts the address resolution service using the requested address resolution table.

Abstract: Various embodiments are described herein, which provide a network element comprising a network port to receive production network data that is used for purposes other than testing the performance of a network, a data plane coupled to the network port, the data plane including a timing module to append a time stamp to a set of one or more time stamps included within the production network data, and a control plane coupled to the data plane, the control plane including a latency analyzer to analyze the set of one or more time stamps included within the production network data.

Abstract: A method for processing network communications, the method including receiving a network packet at a network device and performing at least one lookup for the packet in one or more first lookup tables in which the one or more first lookup tables are programmed to include at least one of an exact match or longest prefix match (LPM) table entry. The method includes obtaining a security source segment and a security destination segment based upon the result of the at least one lookup for the packet in the one or more first lookup tables. The method further includes performing a lookup in a second lookup table based upon the security source segment and security destination segment in which the second lookup table is programmed in a content addressable memory. Based upon the result of the lookup in the second lookup table, processing a forwarding decision for the packet according to the security source segment and security destination segment.

Abstract: In general, the invention relates to a method for managing a real network system. The method includes configuring, using Network Device State Information (NDSI) for at least a portion of the real network system, simulated network devices for a simulated network system. The method further includes obtaining simulation conditions for the simulated network system, simulating, using the simulation conditions, operation of the simulated network system to obtain a simulation result, and initiating an update of at least a portion of the real network system corresponding to the simulated network system.

Abstract: A network device includes a first agent programmed to provide a functionality of the network device. The network device also includes a message bus, distinct from the first agent, that identifies an update associated with the first agent, the update includes differential state information based, at least in part, on a state of the first agent, the state of the first agent is stored in a data structure exclusively managed by the first agent; in response to identifying the update: identifies a second agent that is subscribed to the first agent; and performs an action set to provide the second agent with access to the update.

Abstract: A network device includes a storage and a message bus. The storage stores subscription information. The message bus distributes state information associated with a first agent to at least two agents based on the subscription information. The message bus is distinct from the first agent. The state information is stored in a data structure exclusively managed by the first agent. The message bus, after distributing the state information, makes a determination that a connection to one of the at least two agents has been closed; and performs, based on the determination, an action set to prevent attempts to distribute future state information to the one of the at least two agents.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of a device that starts an address resolution service on a network element after a boot-up of this network element is described. In an exemplary embodiment, the network element sends an indication of the boot-up. The network element further sends a request for an address resolution table and receives a reply with the requested address resolution table. In addition, the network element starts the address resolution service using the requested address resolution table.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of a network element that processes a packet in the network element is described. In an exemplary embodiment, the network element receives a data packet that includes a destination address. The network element receives a packet, with a packet switch unit, wherein the packet was received by the network element on an ingress interface. The network element further determines if the packet is to be stored in an external queue. In addition, the network element identifies the external queue for the packet based on one or more characteristics of the packet. The network element additionally forwards the packet to a packet storage unit, wherein the packet storage unit includes storage for the external queue. Furthermore, the network element receives the packet from the packet storage unit and forwards the packet to an egress interface corresponding to the external queue.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of a device that starts an address resolution service on a network element after a boot-up of this network element is described. In an exemplary embodiment, the network element sends an indication of the boot-up. The network element further sends a request for an address resolution table and receives a reply with the requested address resolution table. In addition, the network element starts the address resolution service using the requested address resolution table.