Abstract: Methods and systems presented herein provide for self-routing multicast. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, using a switch controller, a multicast data stream join request from a source in a network, and creating, using the switch controller, a multipath identifier (ID) for a multicast data stream. Moreover, the method includes creating, using the switch controller, path identifiers (IDs) for intermediate switches in the network based on a local network topology database. Each path ID is associated with an output port bitmap. The method also includes transmitting, using the switch controller, the multipath ID and a path ID to a source of the multicast data stream, the path ID corresponding to the source of the multicast join request. Also, the multipath ID and the path ID are configured to allow the source of the multicast data stream to determine an output port mapping for a packet.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to managing data flows at a virtual forwarding element. A method for managing data flows at a virtual forwarding element executing in a host that has a network interface card (NIC) is provided. The method receives, from a virtual machine executing in the host, a packet that belongs to a data flow originating from the virtual machine. The method identifies a network identifier for the data flow based on a mapping between a plurality of virtual machines executing in the host and a plurality of network identifiers. The mapping is provided by a network controller that configures the virtual forwarding element. The method encapsulates the packet with the network identifier and a tunnel header that includes network addresses of the host. The method sends the encapsulated packet to the NIC. The NIC transmits the encapsulated packet out of the host and towards a destination of the packet.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a hardware processor and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor, the logic being adapted to receive a traffic flow having a plurality of packets, classify the traffic flow into a traffic class based on a characteristic of the traffic flow, the traffic class being selected from a plurality of traffic classes, store an identifier of the selected traffic class to one or more of the packets, and transmit the traffic flow according to its destination based on a priority of its selected traffic class. In more embodiments, additional systems, methods, and computer program products for prioritizing traffic flow handling are described.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a hardware processor and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor. The logic is configured to classify a traffic flow into a traffic class based on at least one criteria related to the traffic flow and request that a credit manager remap flow credits corresponding to a first traffic class to flow credits corresponding to a second traffic class. In another embodiment, a method for providing credit-based flow control includes classifying a traffic flow into a traffic class based on at least one criteria related to the traffic flow, the traffic class being selected from a plurality of traffic classes. The method also includes storing an identifier indicating the traffic class of packets of the traffic flow according to a virtual local area network (VLAN) identifier in a three bit VLAN tag portion of a header of one or more of the packets.

Abstract: Systems and methods to manage a network include a security blade server configured to perform a security operation on network traffic, and a controller configured to virtualize a plurality of network devices. The controller is further configured to program the network traffic to flow through the security blade server to create a secure network channel. A software defined environment may includes an application program interface (API) used to program the flow of the network traffic. The controller may use the API to virtually and selectively position the security blade server as waypoint for the network traffic.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a computer program product includes a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith. The embodied program instructions are readable/executable by a processor to receive, by the processor, a packet via a network fabric, the network fabric having a plurality of interconnected fabric switches. The embodied program instructions are also readable/executable by the processor to determine, by the processor, a path through the network fabric by consulting a source-routing table. Moreover, the embodied program instructions are readable/executable by the processor to store, by the processor, source-routing information to a packet header for the packet, the source-routing information including the path. In addition, the embodied program instructions are readable/executable by the processor to send, by the processor, the packet according to an indication in the source-routing information.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention may include a method, computer program product and computer system for building and disseminating a smart encyclopedia. The method, computer program product and computer system may include a computing device that receives source content. The computing device may determine a first relationship. The first relationship corresponds to a relationship between a first portion of the source content and a second portion of the source content. The computing device may determine a first location of the first relationship within an index. The computing device may identify a user location within the index. The computing device may determine whether the user location is located beyond the first location within the index. The computing device may display the first relationship to the user based on the determination that the user location is beyond the first location.

Abstract: A first cluster includes first switching devices that are compatible with a software-defined networking (SDN) protocol. A second cluster includes second switching devices within or partially overlapping the first cluster. Each second switching device is compatible with a protocol for an open systems interconnection (OSI) model layer. The first switching devices include one or more border switching devices located at a boundary between the first cluster and the second cluster. Each border switching device is also compatible with the protocol for the OSI model layer. The first switching devices effect first multipathing through the network except through the second cluster, and the second switching devices effect second multipathing just through the second cluster of the network. As such, the first switching devices and the second switching devices together effect end-to-end multipathing through both the first cluster and the second cluster of the network.

Abstract: Congestion management for data traffic in a virtual domain identifies a congestion source and sends a message to the source to adjust data traffic rates. The source may be a virtual machine hosted by a physical server with one or more virtual servers incorporated. A congestion manager may identify the source and send the message to the source without affecting other data sources hosted by the physical server or the virtual servers. In some embodiments, information about the congestion source may be encapsulated in a packet payload readable only by the congestion source so only the congestion source receives the instruction to adjust the transmission rate.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to a software-defined networking (SDN) single-source enterprise workload manager. An aspect includes analyzing, by an enterprise server executing a workload compiler, a plurality of source code files of a workload during a workload compilation and build process to determine enterprise network connections between a plurality of subprograms of the workload as a plurality of compile-time information of the workload. The workload compiler generates a network flow graph as interactions between the subprograms of the workload in the enterprise network responsive to the compile-time information of the workload. The network flow graph is provided to an SDN controller to make network resource allocations for the workload based on the network flow graph. A workload manager of the enterprise server adjusts an allocation of compute resources based on a notification of a reallocation of network resources made by the SDN controller.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a hardware processor and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor or media access control (MAC) functionality of a network port. The logic is configured to negotiate a credit aging duration during initialization of a link between a receiving endpoint and a sending endpoint, the receiving and sending endpoints being connected in a network fabric. The link includes at least one virtual link. The logic is also configured to receive an amount of available flow credits from the receiving endpoint and transmit one or more packets to the receiving endpoint. The amount of available flow credits are used to determine a capacity to process packets at the receiving endpoint. The exchange of flow credits is performed on a per virtual link basis. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are presented according to more embodiments.

Abstract: A processor-implemented method manages virtual machines that execute on physical servers in a server cloud. One or more processors establish a maximum network bandwidth percentage for a physical server in the server cloud. The maximum network bandwidth percentage is a percentage of a total network bandwidth capability designed for the first physical server. Response time for operational requests to one or more virtual machines on the first physical server changes beyond a predefined differential in response to the maximum network bandwidth percentage being reached. In response to the NIC controller device on the first physical server determining that the maximum network bandwidth percentage for the first physical server is exceeded, a cloud service hypervisor device moves one or more virtual machines on the first physical server to a second physical server in the server cloud.

Abstract: A server cloud contains multiple physical servers. A NIC controller device is on a first physical server in the server cloud. The NIC controller device establishes a maximum network bandwidth percentage for the first physical server in the server cloud. The maximum network bandwidth percentage is a percentage of a total network bandwidth capability designed for the first physical server. Response time for operational requests to one or more virtual machines on the first physical server changes beyond a predefined differential in response to the maximum network bandwidth percentage being reached. In response to the NIC controller device on the first physical server determining that the maximum network bandwidth percentage for the first physical server is exceeded, a cloud service hypervisor device moves one or more virtual machines on the first physical server to a second physical server in the server cloud.

Abstract: A method to investigate congestion in a computer network may include network devices to route data packets throughout the network. The method includes, for example, sending a probe packet to network devices from a source node to gather information about the traffic queues at each network device that is examined by the probe packet. A routing table at each network device that receives the probe packet is based on the gathered information for respective each traffic queue.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to a software-defined networking (SDN) single-source enterprise workload manager. An aspect includes a computer-implemented method for SDN single-source enterprise workload management. A network flow graph of a workload is received at an SDN controller in an enterprise network from a workload compiler of the enterprise network. The network flow graph defines interactions between a plurality of subprograms distributed in the enterprise network based on compile-time information of the workload. The SDN controller analyzes the network flow graph to identify the interactions between the subprograms as prompts. The SDN controller allocates network resources to define a plurality of flows through the enterprise network based on the prompts and characteristics of the enterprise network. Network traffic in the enterprise network is controlled based on the flows.

Abstract: A method for managing multiple electronic conference sessions. The method includes a computer processor identifying a plurality of conference sessions that a user is attending, wherein the plurality of conference sessions includes a first session and a second session. The method further includes a computer processor identifying one or more triggers that indicate an occurrence of an event in at least one of the plurality of conference sessions. The method further includes a computer processor determining that the user is an active participant in at least the first session of the plurality of conference sessions that the user is attending. The method further includes a computer processor detecting at least one trigger of the one or more identified triggers, within the second session of the plurality of conference sessions that the user is attending.

Abstract: A method for managing multiple electronic conference sessions. The method includes a computer processor identifying a plurality of conference sessions that a user is attending, wherein the plurality of conference sessions includes a first session and a second session. The method further includes a computer processor identifying one or more triggers that indicate an occurrence of an event in at least one of the plurality of conference sessions. The method further includes a computer processor determining that the user is an active participant in at least the first session of the plurality of conference sessions that the user is attending. The method further includes a computer processor detecting at least one trigger of the one or more identified triggers, within the second session of the plurality of conference sessions that the user is attending.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to a software-defined networking (SDN) single-source enterprise workload manager. An aspect includes a system for SDN single-source enterprise workload management. A network flow graph of a workload is received at an SDN controller in an enterprise network from a workload compiler of the enterprise network. The network flow graph defines interactions between a plurality of subprograms distributed in the enterprise network based on compile-time information of the workload. The SDN controller analyzes the network flow graph to identify the interactions between the subprograms as prompts. The SDN controller allocates network resources to define a plurality of flows through the enterprise network based on the prompts and characteristics of the enterprise network. Network traffic in the enterprise network is controlled based on the flows.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to transmission of control data between a network switch and a switch controller is provided. Aspects of the embodiments includes: configuring a plurality of control data packets by the switch controller, wherein configuring includes disposing a sequence number in each of the plurality of control data packets indicating an order of data packet transmission; storing the plurality of control data packets in a replay buffer in communication with the switch controller; transmitting the plurality of control data packets to the network switch over a secure link between the switch controller and the network switch; and responsive to determining that one or more control data packets were not received by the network switch, retrieving the one or more control data packets from the replay buffer and re-transmitting the one or more control data packets to the network switch.

Abstract: A method for transmission of control data between a network switch and a switch controller is provided. The method includes: configuring a plurality of control data packets by the switch controller, wherein configuring includes disposing a sequence number in each of the plurality of control data packets indicating an order of data packet transmission; storing the plurality of control data packets in a replay buffer in communication with the switch controller; transmitting the plurality of control data packets to the network switch over a secure link between the switch controller and the network switch; and responsive to determining that one or more control data packets were not received by the network switch, retrieving the one or more control data packets from the replay buffer and re-transmitting the one or more control data packets to the network switch.