Abstract: An information handling system is provided. The information handling system includes a first network device that forms at least part of a first set of network devices. The first network device provides an interface between a local first server rack and a cloud and has one or more processors in communication with a memory. The first network device is configured to receive information from a second set of network devices that identifies a default gateway for a virtual machine running on a remote server rack. The first network device is also configured to create a local destination address entry associated with information, to store the entry in an address table in the memory, and to receive a packet having the information identifying the default gateway as a destination address. The first network device is further configured to forward the packet into the cloud on in proxy for the default gateway.

Abstract: A switch IHS stacking system includes a plurality of switch IHSs. A least one first switch IHS includes a first processing system and at least one second switch IHS includes a second processing system that is different from the first processing system. A stacking engine is located on each of the plurality of switch IHSs. Following the coupling of the plurality of switch IHSs into a stack and in response to the startup of the plurality of switch IHSs, the each of the stacking engines may exchange capability information with each of the plurality of switch IHSs and determine a control plane processing system affinity and a data plane processing system affinity for each of the plurality of switch IHSs. The stacking engines may then determine a master switch IHS for the stack that has the highest control plane processing system affinity and data plane processing system affinity.

Abstract: An example method is provided and includes receiving a request from a mobile node for an Internet protocol (IP) address and establishing a point-to-point (PPP) link for the mobile node. The method also includes provisioning a first tunnel associated with a first communication flow for the mobile node, and provisioning a sub-tunnel with the first tunnel for a second communication flow. The second communication flow is associated with a high priority type of data to be transported on the sub-tunnel. In more specific embodiments, a call admission control (CAC) mechanism is used to establish the sub-tunnel with the first tunnel for the second communication flow. Additionally, an inner label is installed in a header of a packet associated with the second communication flow in order to identify the sub-tunnel.

Abstract: A system and method for detection of elephant flows includes a switching device. The switching device includes one or more ports, a memory, and a control unit coupled to the ports and the memory. The control unit is configured to detect storage locations information included in one or more first messages. The storage locations information identifies a storage node and is forwarded to a computing device. The control unit is further configured to detect opening of a connection between the computing device and the storage node based one or more second messages received for forwarding on one or more of the ports and determine identifying characteristics of an elephant flow based on information associated with the connection.

Abstract: An information handling system is provided. The information handling system includes a plurality of core devices coupled to each other and to a plurality of distribution devices and a plurality of top-of-rack devices coupled to a plurality of servers and to the distribution devices. The plurality of servers are running hypervisors thereon that each manage a virtual switch and a plurality of virtual machines (VMs). The information handling system further includes a plurality of local network address resolution mediators, with each local network address resolution mediator running on one of the plurality of servers and receiving packets from VMs running thereon, and a global network address resolution mediator running on one of the plurality of core devices. The global network address resolution mediator is in communication with each of the plurality of local network address resolution mediators to collect and distribute packets from the plurality of VMs.

Abstract: An information handling system is provided. The information handling system includes a customer edge device coupled to a provider edge device. The customer edge device provides a default virtual routing and forwarding (VRF) instance that receives a multicast stream from the provider edge device. The information handling system also includes a plurality of host devices and a plurality of virtual local area networks (VLANs). Each of the VLANs includes at least one of the host devices and is assigned to a subscribing VRF instance, with each of the subscribing VRF instances subscribing to the default VRF instance in order to receive a copy of the multicast stream from the provider edge device. The single copy of the multicast stream is transmitted over the PE-CE link regardless of the number of subscribing VRFs.

Abstract: In a packet switch with databases (250, 404) used for packet forwarding, the database pieces are identified by version identifiers (410V) which are used by the packet switch's modules (LCx, RPM0, RPM1) in exchanging information on the databases and requesting updates to the databases. For example, if a primary management module fails and the management is transferred to a secondary management module, the secondary management module requests forwarding modules (e.g. line cards) to identify the database pieces stored on the forwarding modules, and to update the databases as needed. Use of version identifiers reduces the amount of data that has to be transferred in connection with such requests.

Abstract: A system and method for improved routing in autonomous systems includes identifying one or more first edge routers for an autonomous system, selecting one or more second edge routers from the one or more first edge routers, determining a third edge router, forming a first edge router list including all of the one or more second edge routers except for the third edge router, forming a first reachability message, and transmitting the first reachability message. A first prefix is reachable using the one or more second edge routers. The third edge router is associated with a first path for reaching the first prefix. The third edge router is selected from the one or more second edge routers. The first path is a best path for reaching the first prefix. The reachability message includes the first prefix, information associated with the first path, and the first edge router list.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems and methods for monitoring communication connectivity between applications remotely separated from each other in a network. The system includes: one or more processors; a memory communicatively coupled to the one or more processors; a network interface communicatively coupled to the one or more processors; and an agent communicatively coupled to the network interface and configured to: receive a registration for an application operating on the information handling system; monitor a liveliness status of a communication session between the agent and a remote agent operating on a remote information handling system, the communication session being enabled via the network interface; and notify the application of a fault in the communication session responsive to detecting that the fault exists.

Abstract: In a packet switch with databases (250, 404) used for packet forwarding, the database pieces are identified by version identifiers (410V) which are used by the packet switch's modules (LCx, RPM0, RPM1) in exchanging information on the databases and requesting updates to the databases. For example, if a primary management module fails and the management is transferred to a secondary management module, the secondary management module requests forwarding modules (e.g. line cards) to identify the database pieces stored on the forwarding modules, and to update the databases as needed. Use of version identifiers reduces the amount of data that has to be transferred in connection with such requests.

Abstract: An information handling system is provided. The information handling system includes a plurality of core devices coupled to each other and to a plurality of distribution devices and a plurality of top-of-rack devices coupled to a plurality of servers and to the distribution devices. The plurality of servers are running hypervisors thereon that each manage a virtual switch and a plurality of virtual machines (VMs). The information handling system further includes a plurality of local network address resolution mediators, with each local network address resolution mediator running on one of the plurality of servers and receiving packets from VMs running thereon, and a global network address resolution mediator running on one of the plurality of core devices. The global network address resolution mediator is in communication with each of the plurality of local network address resolution mediators to collect and distribute packets from the plurality of VMs.

Abstract: An information handling system is provided. The information handling system includes a network orchestration service running on a computer processor. The network orchestration service provides a Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) listener module and a topology builder module. The BGP listener module is configured to receive information from a plurality of spine devices configured as an autonomous system and the topology builder module is configured to use the information received by the BGP listener module to create a topology of a data center that includes the plurality of spine devices. Additionally, the network orchestration service is in communication with a memory that is used to store information received by the BGP listener module and the topology of the data center. Applications of the information handling system for better operating the data center are also provided.

Abstract: An information handling system is provided. The information handling system includes a customer edge device coupled to a provider edge device. The customer edge device provides a default virtual routing and forwarding (VRF) instance that receives a multicast stream from the provider edge device. The information handling system also includes a plurality of host devices and a plurality of virtual local area networks (VLANs). Each of the VLANs includes at least one of the host devices and is assigned to a subscribing VRF instance, with each of the subscribing VRF instances subscribing to the default VRF instance in order to receive a copy of the multicast stream from the provider edge device. The single copy of the multicast stream is transmitted over the PE-CE link regardless of the number of subscribing VRFs.

Abstract: Methods of load-balancing in a network are provided herein. One such method includes steps of receiving network traffic at a network device, the network traffic having a destination address and of performing a look-up in a multipath group table using the destination address. The multipath group table includes entries for recursive next-hops, each recursive next hop being associated with a connected next hop in the multipath group table. The method also include a step of hashing the network traffic according to a number of recursive next-hops associated with the destination address in the multipath group table. Additional methods and information handling system are also provided.

Abstract: A virtual extensible local area network (“VXLAN”) system includes servers having VXLAN tunnel end points (“VTEP”) and virtual machines (“VMs”), multiple routers to transmit network data using bidirectional groups (“BIDIRs”) and rendezvous points (“RPs”), and an associated management and provisioning entity (“MPE”) adapted to arrange BIDIRs dynamically based upon network traffic such that traffic is more evenly distributed across the VXLAN. Some of the routers can be preconfigured as potential RPs, and the MPE can activate and deactivate these routers to and from RP status as needed. The MPE creates and rearranges BIDIRs based upon volume thresholds of traffic being reached in BIDIRs, such as by splitting overloaded BIDIRs. Network traffic can be monitored by VTEPs and RPs.

Abstract: An information handling system is provided. The information handling system includes an ingress network device receiving a multicast stream from a coupled source device and a first and a second egress network device. The first and second egress network devices each receive the multicast stream for coupled destination devices. The information handling system also includes a plurality of intermediate network devices by which the ingress network device is coupled to the first and second egress network devices to form a network and further includes a network controller. The network controller has a topology of the network in a memory and forms a multicast tree based on the topology as well as a link load level and a multicast replication capacity associated with links to the first and second egress network devices and to each of the plurality of intermediate network devices.

Abstract: A virtual extensible local area network (“VXLAN”) system includes servers having VXLAN tunnel end points (“VTEP”) and virtual machines (“VMs”), multiple routers to transmit network data using bidirectional groups (“BIDIRs”) and rendezvous points (“RPs”), and an associated management and provisioning entity (“MPE”) adapted to arrange BIDIRs dynamically based upon network traffic such that traffic is more evenly distributed across the VXLAN. Some of the routers can be preconfigured as potential RPs, and the MPE can activate and deactivate these routers to and from RP status as needed. The MPE creates and rearranges BIDIRs based upon volume thresholds of traffic being reached in BIDIRs, such as by splitting overloaded BIDIRs. Network traffic can be monitored by VTEPs and RPs.

Abstract: An information handling system is provided. The information handling system includes a first network device that forms at least part of a first set of network devices. The first network device provides an interface between a local first server rack and a cloud and has one or more processors in communication with a memory. The first network device is configured to receive information from a second set of network devices that identifies a default gateway for a virtual machine running on a remote server rack. The first network device is also configured to create a local destination address entry associated with information, to store the entry in an address table in the memory, and to receive a packet having the information identifying the default gateway as a destination address. The first network device is further configured to forward the packet into the cloud on in proxy for the default gateway.

Abstract: An information handling system is provided. The information handling system includes a plurality of core devices coupled to each other and to a plurality of distribution devices and a plurality of top-of-rack devices coupled to a plurality of servers and to the distribution devices. The plurality of servers are running hypervisors thereon that each manage a virtual switch and a plurality of virtual machines (VMs). The information handling system further includes a plurality of local network address resolution mediators, with each local network address resolution mediator running on one of the plurality of servers and receiving packets from VMs running thereon, and a global network address resolution mediator running on one of the plurality of core devices. The global network address resolution mediator is in communication with each of the plurality of local network address resolution mediators to collect and distribute packets from the plurality of VMs.

Abstract: A switch IHS stacking system includes a plurality of switch IHSs. A least one first switch IHS includes a first processing system and at least one second switch IHS includes a second processing system that is different from the first processing system. A stacking engine is located on each of the plurality of switch IHSs. Following the coupling of the plurality of switch IHSs into a stack and in response to the startup of the plurality of switch IHSs, the each of the stacking engines may exchange capability information with each of the plurality of switch IHSs and determine a control plane processing system affinity and a data plane processing system affinity for each of the plurality of switch IHSs. The stacking engines may then determine a master switch IHS for the stack that has the highest control plane processing system affinity and data plane processing system affinity.