Abstract: Various embodiments are described herein to enable physical topology independent dynamic insertion of a service device into a network. One embodiment provides for a network system comprising a set of network elements to interconnect a set of host devices, the set of network elements having a physical topology defined by the physical links between network elements in the set of network elements and a logical topology defined by a flow of network data between a network service device and a client of the network service device, wherein the physical topology differs from the logical topology, and a network management device including a service policy module to monitor a service policy of the network service device and automatically configure the logical topology of the network elements based on a change in the service policy.

Abstract: A system that provides communication services may include two switches for redundancy. The switches may indicate that they are independent devices to upstream devices and indicate that they are the same device to a predetermined device set. If one of the switches enters an undesired state, then the switch in a standby state may modify the upstream devices to preferentially forward packets directed toward the predetermined device set to the standby switch rather than an active switch, and after transitioning the active switch to the standby state, transition the standby switch to the active state.

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 automates a task over a network that includes a plurality of data centers is described. In an exemplary embodiment, the device receives state change information from a plurality of devices in the plurality of data centers. In addition, the device generates an overall state for the network. The device further receives a task to be performed over the plurality of data centers. The device additionally schedules the task to be performed using the overall network state.

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 automates a task over a network that includes a plurality of data centers is described. In an exemplary embodiment, the device receives state change information from a plurality of devices in the plurality of data centers. In addition, the device generates an overall state for the network. The device further receives a task to be performed over the plurality of data centers. The device additionally schedules the task to be performed using the overall network state.

Abstract: Various embodiments are described herein to enable physical topology independent dynamic insertion of a service device into a network. One embodiment provides for a network system comprising a set of network elements to interconnect a set of host devices, the set of network elements having a physical topology defined by the physical links between network elements in the set of network elements and a logical topology defined by a flow of network data between a network service device and a client of the network service device, wherein the physical topology differs from the logical topology, and a network management device including a service policy module to monitor a service policy of the network service device and automatically configure the logical topology of the network elements based on a change in the service policy.

Abstract: A system that provides communication services may include two switches for redundancy. The switches may indicate that they are independent devices to upstream devices and indicate that they are the same device to a predetermined device set. If one of the switches enters an undesired state, then the switch in a standby state may modify the upstream devices to preferentially forward packets directed toward the predetermined device set to the standby switch rather than an active switch, and after transitioning the active switch to the standby state, transition the standby switch to the active state.

Abstract: Various embodiments are described herein to enable physical topology independent dynamic insertion of a service device into a network. One embodiment provides for a network system comprising a set of network elements to interconnect a set of host devices, the set of network elements having a physical topology defined by the physical links between network elements in the set of network elements and a logical topology defined by a flow of network data between a network service device and a client of the network service device, wherein the physical topology differs from the logical topology, and a network management device including a service policy module to monitor a service policy of the network service device and automatically configure the logical topology of the network elements based on a change in the service policy.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of a device that updates boot images of a network segment of a network is described. In an exemplary embodiment, the device receives a configuration point for the network segment, where the network segment includes a heterogeneous mix of a plurality of network elements. For each of the plurality of network elements in the network segment, the device identifies a boot image for that network element corresponding to the configuration point and updates the network element. The boot image for a network element includes the software that network element runs and a configuration of this software.

Abstract: Various embodiments are described herein to enable physical topology independent dynamic insertion of a service device into a network. One embodiment provides for a network system comprising a set of network elements to interconnect a set of host devices, the set of network elements having a physical topology defined by the physical links between network elements in the set of network elements and a logical topology defined by a flow of network data between a network service device and a client of the network service device, wherein the physical topology differs from the logical topology, and a network management device including a service policy module to monitor a service policy of the network service device and automatically configure the logical topology of the network elements based on a change in the service policy.

Abstract: Various embodiments are described herein to enable physical topology independent dynamic insertion of a service device into a network. One embodiment provides for a network system comprising a set of network elements to interconnect a set of host devices, the set of network elements having a physical topology defined by the physical links between network elements in the set of network elements and a logical topology defined by a flow of network data between a network service device and a client of the network service device, wherein the physical topology differs from the logical topology, and a network management device including a service policy module to monitor a service policy of the network service device and automatically configure the logical topology of the network elements based on a change in the service policy.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of a device that measures performance of a plurality of cloud service providers is described. In an exemplary embodiment, the device deploys a plurality of cloud agents to the plurality of cloud service providers. In addition, the device configures a controller to measure the performance of each of the plurality of cloud service providers using each plurality of cloud agents. The device further probes each of the plurality of cloud service providers by sending probe data to each of the plurality of cloud service providers. The device additionally receives response data from each of plurality of cloud agents, wherein the response data is indicative of performance measurements of the plurality of cloud service providers. Furthermore, the device measures the performance for each of the plurality of cloud service providers using the response data.

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: 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: Various embodiments are described herein to enable physical topology independent dynamic insertion of a service device into a network. One embodiment provides for a network system comprising a set of network elements to interconnect a set of host devices, the set of network elements having a physical topology defined by the physical links between network elements in the set of network elements, and a network management device including a network management module to monitor and configure the set of network elements, the network management module to configure the set of network elements to enable dynamic insertion of a network service device into the network to logically couple to one or more host devices in the set of host devices to the network service device independently of a location of the one or more host devices and the network service device within the physical topology.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of a device that determines a cause and effect of congestion in this device is described. In an exemplary embodiment, the device measures a queue group occupancy of a queue group for a port in the device, where the queue group stores a plurality of packets to be communicated through that port. In addition, the device determines if the measurement indicates a potential congestion of the queue group, where the congestion prevents a packet from being communicated within a time period. If potential congestion exists on that queue group, the device further gathers information regarding packets to be transmitted through that port. For example, the device can gather statistics packets that are stored in the queue group and/or new enqueue packets.

Abstract: Various embodiments are described herein that provide a network system comprising a set of peers within a link aggregation group (LAG), the first set of peers including a first network element and a second network element and a status resolution server to connect to the set of peers within the link aggregation group, wherein one or more peers within the LAG is to query the status resolution server to determine an operational status of a peer in the set of peers in response to detection of an apparent failure of the peer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of a device that determines a cause and effect of congestion in this device is described. In an exemplary embodiment, the device measures a queue group occupancy of a queue group for a port in the device, where the queue group stores a plurality of packets to be communicated through that port. In addition, the device determines if the measurement indicates a potential congestion of the queue group, where the congestion prevents a packet from being communicated within a time period. If potential congestion exists on that queue group, the device further gathers information regarding packets to be transmitted through that port. For example, the device can gather statistics packets that are stored in the queue group and/or new enqueue packets.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of a device that determines a cause and effect of congestion in this device is described. The device determines an effect of congestion in the device. The device measures a queue group occupancy of a queue group for a port in the device, where the queue group stores a plurality of packets to be communicated through that port. The device further determines if congestion exists on that queue group using the measurement, where the congestion prevents a packet of the plurality of packets from being communicated within a time period. If the congestion exists on that queue group, the device additionally gathers information regarding packets to be transmitted through that port. For example, the device can gather statistics packets that are stored in the queue group and/or new enqueue packets.