Abstract: Example methods are provided for a network management entity to perform network configuration failure diagnosis in a software-defined networking (SDN) environment. The method may comprise receiving a request to diagnose a network configuration failure; and generating and sending control information to a host to cause the host to inject, at a first network element, a diagnostic packet for transmission along a datapath to a configuration server via multiple second network elements. The diagnostic packet may be configured according to a network configuration protocol supported by the configuration server. The method may also comprise: receiving report information associated with the diagnostic packet from at least one of the following: the first network element, the multiple second network elements and the configuration server; and based on the report information, determining a diagnosis result associated with the network configuration failure.

Abstract: Example methods are provided for a network management entity to perform query failure diagnosis in a software-defined networking (SDN) environment. The method may comprise receiving a request to diagnose a query failure; and generating and sending control information to a host to cause the host to inject, at a first network element, a diagnostic packet for transmission along a datapath to a query failure via multiple second network elements. The diagnostic packet may be a query configured according to a query protocol supported by the query server. The method may also comprise: receiving report information associated with the diagnostic packet from at least one of the following: the first network element, the multiple second network elements and the query failure; and based on the report information, determining a diagnosis result associated with the query failure.

Abstract: Example methods and systems for a network management entity to perform configuration change monitoring. One example method may comprise receiving a request to monitor a datapath to which a configuration change is applicable. The datapath may include multiple network elements. The method may also comprise instructing the first host to inject, at a first network element, one or more trace packets for transmission along the datapath to a second network element. The method may further comprise: obtaining state information associated with the configuration change, and detecting that an operating condition associated with the datapath is affected by the configuration change based on the state information.

Abstract: Example methods and systems for a network management entity to perform configuration change monitoring. One example method may comprise receiving a request to monitor a datapath to which a configuration change is applicable. The datapath may include multiple network elements. The method may also comprise instructing the first host to inject, at a first network element, one or more trace packets for transmission along the datapath to a second network element. The method may further comprise: obtaining state information associated with the configuration change, and detecting that an operating condition associated with the datapath is affected by the configuration change based on the state information.

Abstract: Example methods are provided for a network management entity to perform network configuration failure diagnosis in a software-defined networking (SDN) environment. The method may comprise receiving a request to diagnose a network configuration failure; and generating and sending control information to a host to cause the host to inject, at a first network element, a diagnostic packet for transmission along a datapath to a configuration server via multiple second network elements. The diagnostic packet may be configured according to a network configuration protocol supported by the configuration server. The method may also comprise: receiving report information associated with the diagnostic packet from at least one of the following: the first network element, the multiple second network elements and the configuration server; and based on the report information, determining a diagnosis result associated with the network configuration failure.

Abstract: Example methods are provided for a network management entity to perform query failure diagnosis in a software-defined networking (SDN) environment. The method may comprise receiving a request to diagnose a query failure; and generating and sending control information to a host to cause the host to inject, at a first network element, a diagnostic packet for transmission along a datapath to a query failure via multiple second network elements. The diagnostic packet may be a query configured according to a query protocol supported by the query server. The method may also comprise: receiving report information associated with the diagnostic packet from at least one of the following: the first network element, the multiple second network elements and the query failure; and based on the report information, determining a diagnosis result associated with the query failure.

Abstract: Example methods are provided for configuring traffic flow monitoring in a virtualized computing environment. The method may comprise identifying a first logical entity and a second logical entity for which traffic flow monitoring is required and determining a span associated with the first logical entity and the second logical entity. The span may include a first host supporting the first logical entity and a second host supporting the second logical entity. The method may also comprise, based on the span, configuring the first host to monitor a first traffic flow travelling through the first logical entity at the first host, and the second host to monitor a second traffic flow travelling through the second logical entity at the second host.

Abstract: Example methods are provided for configuring traffic flow monitoring in a virtualized computing environment. The method may comprise identifying a first logical entity and a second logical entity for which traffic flow monitoring is required and determining a span associated with the first logical entity and the second logical entity. The span may include a first host supporting the first logical entity and a second host supporting the second logical entity. The method may also comprise, based on the span, configuring the first host to monitor a first traffic flow travelling through the first logical entity at the first host, and the second host to monitor a second traffic flow travelling through the second logical entity at the second host.

Abstract: An example method is provided for a host to perform network configuration health check in a virtualized computing environment. The method may include selecting a source NIC and one or more destination NICs, based on a first network configuration of the host, generating one or more unicast probe packets that are addressed from the source NIC to the respective one or more destination NICs, and sending the one or more unicast probe packets to the respective one or more destination NICs from the source NIC via a physical switch connected to the host. The method may also include in response to receiving the one or more unicast probe packets from the physical switch, determining that there is a match between the first network configuration and a second network configuration, but otherwise, determining that there is a mismatch between the first network configuration and second network configuration.

Abstract: An example method is provided for a host to perform network configuration health check in a virtualized computing environment. The method may include selecting a source NIC and one or more destination NICs, based on a first network configuration of the host, generating one or more unicast probe packets that are addressed from the source NIC to the respective one or more destination NICs, and sending the one or more unicast probe packets to the respective one or more destination NICs from the source NIC via a physical switch connected to the host. The method may also include in response to receiving the one or more unicast probe packets from the physical switch, determining that there is a match between the first network configuration and a second network configuration, but otherwise, determining that there is a mismatch between the first network configuration and second network configuration.