Abstract: Techniques for providing layer 4 transparent secure transport for end-to-end application protection are described herein. According to one embodiment, a packet of a network transaction is received from a client over a first network, where the packet is destined to a server of a data center having a plurality of servers over a second network. The packet includes a payload encrypted without encrypting information needed for a layer 4 of OSI (open system interconnection) layers of network processes. The layer 4 process is performed on the packet without having to decrypting the payload to determine whether the packet is eligible to access the destined server over the second network based on the unencrypted layer 4 information. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.

Abstract: Layer 4 gateway for a converged datacenter fabric is described herein. According to one embodiment, a packet of a network transaction is received from a client over a first network for accessing a server of a datacenter having a plurality of servers over a second network. One or more network services are performed on the packet including terminating a TCP (transport control protocol) connection associated with the network transaction and generating a data stream. The data stream without TCP information is routed to the server via a converged I/O interface over the second network if the second network is a converged fabric network. The data stream with TCP information is routed via a TCP connection to the server if the second network is an Ethernet. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.

Abstract: An application network appliance having inter-module communication using a universal serial bus (USB) is described herein. According to one embodiment, a network element includes a lossless data transport fabric (LDTF), multiple service modules coupled to each other over the LDTF, and a service control module (SCM) coupled to each of the service modules over the LDTF for routing network data between the SCM and the service modules. The SCM is also coupled to each of the service modules via a universal serial bus (USB) for managing the service modules, where the network element operates as a security gateway to a datacenter having multiple servers. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.

Abstract: A highly scalable application layer service appliance is described herein. According to one embodiment, a network element includes a plurality of application service modules (ASMs), each providing one or more application services to network traffic, including layer 5-7 services, a lossless data transport fabric (LDTF), a network service module (NSM) coupled to each of the ASMs over the LDTF. In response to a packet of a network transaction received from a client over for accessing a server of a datacenter, the NSM is configured to perform layer 2-5 processes on the packet, generating a data stream. The NSM is configured to route the data stream to at least two ASMs over the LDTF to allow the ASMs to perform layer 5-7 services on the packet. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.

Abstract: An application network appliance with virtualized services is described herein. According to one embodiment, a packet of a network transaction is received from a client for accessing an application server of a datacenter, where the network element operates as an application services gateway of the datacenter. A context associated with the application server is identified based on the packet, including information that identifies application services to be performed on the packet and resources to be allocated for performing the application services. A context includes information representing a logical instance of physical resources of the network element shared by multiple contexts. One or more application services are performed on the packet using the resources identified by the context. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.

Abstract: A highly scalable application network appliance is described herein. According to one embodiment, a network element includes a switch fabric, a first service module coupled to the switch fabric, and a second service module coupled to the first service module over the switch fabric. In response to packets of a network transaction received from a client over a first network to access a server of a data center having multiple servers over a second network, the first service module is configured to perform a first portion of OSI (open system interconnection) compatible layers of network processes on the packets while the second service module is configured to perform a second portion of the OSI compatible layers of network processes on the packets. The first portion includes at least one OSI compatible layer that is not included in the second portion. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.

Abstract: An application network appliance with a built-in virtual directory interface is described herein. According to one embodiment, a network element includes a virtual directory interface (VDI) coupled to multiple directory servers, and an authentication and authorization unit coupled to the VDI. In response to a packet of a network transaction received from a client over a first network for accessing a server of a datacenter over a second network, the authentication and authorization unit obtains user attributes from the directory servers via the VDI and performs authentication and authorization using the user attributes to determine whether a user of the client is eligible to access the server of the datacenter, where the network element operates as a security gateway to the datacenter. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.

Abstract: A network element having centralized TCP termination with multi-service chaining is described herein. According to one embodiment, a network element includes a switch fabric, a first service module coupled to the switch fabric, and a second and a third service modules coupled to the first service module over the switch fabric. In response to packets of a network transaction received from a client over a first network for access a server of a data center having multiple servers over a second network, the first service module is configured to terminate a TCP connection of the packets. The TCP terminated packets are transmitted to the second and third service modules over the switch fabric. The second and third service modules are configured to perform different application network services on the TCP terminated packets without having to perform a TCP process again. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.