Abstract: In some implementations, a method of flow monitoring and identification may include identifying one or more ingress interfaces, where customer flow and traffic enters a switch. In addition, the method may include identifying one or more egress interfaces where the customer flow and traffic exits the switch. The method may include determining accurate information of the customer flow passing through the one or more ingress interfaces and the one or more egress interfaces, which includes metadata from a Layer 3 IP Header.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for telemetry-based network switch configuration validation are disclosed. An analytics engine captures a first network snapshot including telemetry data received from one or more network switches in a first state. Upon receiving a notice indicating that a network configuration change has been applied, the analytics engine initiates a timer in response to receiving the notice. The analytics engine captures, in response to expiration of the timer, a second network snapshot including telemetry data received from the one or more network switches in a second state and compares the first network snapshot and the second network snapshot. In dependence upon the comparison of the first network snapshot to the second network snapshot, the analytics engine validates the network configuration change.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for telemetry-based network switch configuration validation are disclosed. An analytics engine captures a first network snapshot including telemetry data received from one or more network switches in a first state. Upon receiving a notice indicating that a network configuration change has been applied, the analytics engine initiates a timer in response to receiving the notice. The analytics engine captures, in response to expiration of the timer, a second network snapshot including telemetry data received from the one or more network switches in a second state and compares the first network snapshot and the second network snapshot. In dependence upon the comparison of the first network snapshot to the second network snapshot, the analytics engine validates the network configuration change.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a processing circuit and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processing circuit. The logic is configured to cause the processing circuit to handle Internet Group Membership Protocol (IGMP) messages received from other devices in a network. Also, the logic is configured to cause the processing circuit to create a general query solicit (GQS) message configured to solicit a general query (GQ) from a multicast snooping querier coupled with the apparatus. The GQS message causes the multicast snooping querier to send out a general query (GQ) message on all ports in response to receiving the GQS message. The GQ message is configured to solicit port information and group membership information from each IGMP switch in the network. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in more embodiments.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a local compute node connected to a first networking switch by a direct local link. The first switch reduces its priority in response to determining that that the first networking switch is currently unable to establish the bi-directional communication with the local compute node through the direct local link. If the reduced priority of the first networking switch is greater than a priority of each of at least one additional networking switch in a cluster, then the first networking switch operates as a master networking switch for the cluster. If the reduced priority of the first networking switch is less than the priority of any of the at least one networking switch, then the first networking switch operates as a standby networking switch and one of the atleast one additional networking switch having the highest priority is operated as the master networking switch for the cluster.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a local compute node and a first networking switch. The first switch determines whether bi-directional communication is established with the compute node via a direct local link. A message received from an additional networking switch through an inter-switch link indicates whether the additional switch has its additional access/uplinks enabled. The first switch enables first access/uplinks in response to determining that the first switch has currently established bi-directional communication with the compute node and that the received message indicates that the additional networking switch has its additional access/uplinks disabled. The first networking switch disables the first access/uplinks on the first switch in response to determining that the first switch is currently unable to establish bi-directional communication with the compute node and/or receiving a message indicating that the additional networking switch has its additional access/uplinks enabled.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a processing circuit and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processing circuit. The logic is configured to cause the processing circuit to handle Internet Group Membership Protocol (IGMP) messages received from other devices in a network. Also, the logic is configured to cause the processing circuit to create a general query solicit (GQS) message configured to solicit a general query (GQ) from a multicast snooping querier coupled with the apparatus. The GQS message causes the multicast snooping querier to send out a general query (GQ) message on all ports in response to receiving the GQS message. The GQ message is configured to solicit port information and group membership information from each IGMP switch in the network. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in more embodiments.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a processing circuit and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processing circuit. The logic is configured to cause the processing circuit to handle Internet Group Membership Protocol (IGMP) messages received from other devices in a network. Also, the logic is configured to cause the processing circuit to create a general query solicit (GQS) message configured to solicit a general query (GQ) from a multicast snooping querier coupled with the apparatus. In another embodiment, a method includes handling, using a switch in a network, IGMP messages received from other devices in the network, and creating, using the switch, a GQS message configured to solicit a GQ from a multicast snooping querier coupled with the switch. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in more embodiments.

Abstract: A control channel for routing management messages to or from an OpenFlow controller is separated from a reserved port within a data channel for routing unknown data packets to or from the OpenFlow controller. The port may be reserved by setting a reserved port flag. A packet routing table may include a table miss entry that indicates the unknown packets should be routed via the reserved port. By utilizing the reserved port to route unknown packets, the unknown packets do not traverse into the control channel, and the separation of the OpenFlow control channel from the OpenFlow data channel is enhanced.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a software-defined network (SDN) controller including a processor and logic executable by the processor. The logic is executable by the processor to receive a port addition indication that a logical port is configured on a switching device, the switching device being coupled to the SDN controller and a second device, with the logical port representing a link aggregation group (LAG) that includes at least two links between the switching device and the second device. The logic is also executable by the processor to derive and maintain a logical index for all logical ports in software-defined switching devices connected to the SDN controller based on logical port identifiers thereof. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in accordance with more embodiments.

Abstract: A system for PIM fast failover recovery includes a network of a plurality of switching devices. The plurality of switching devices includes a source switching device near a source communicatively connected to a receiver switching device near a receiver by a first interface and at least a third switching device that is communicatively connected to the receiver switching device by a second interface and further is communicatively connected to the source switching device by a third interface. The receiver switching device may discover that the first interface has failed and responds by sending the third switching device a PIM graft message prior to deleting an associated first interface route entry.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a switch that has a processor and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor, the logic being configured to create a message indicating addition, modification, or deletion of a static flow in a software defined network (SDN), wherein the static flow includes the switch and at least one other device in the SDN, and send the message to a SDN controller in a SDN-formatted structure. In another embodiment, a method includes creating a message, using a switch, indicating addition, modification, or deletion of a static flow in a SDN, wherein the static flow includes the switch and at least one other device in the SDN, and sending the message to a SDN controller in a SDN-formatted structure. Other systems and methods for reporting static flows to a SDN controller in a SDN are described according to more embodiments.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a processing circuit and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processing circuit. The logic is configured to cause the processing circuit to handle Internet Group Membership Protocol (IGMP) messages received from other devices in a network. Also, the logic is configured to cause the processing circuit to create a general query solicit (GQS) message configured to solicit a general query (GQ) from a multicast snooping querier coupled with the apparatus. In another embodiment, a method includes handling, using a switch in a network, IGMP messages received from other devices in the network, and creating, using the switch, a GQS message configured to solicit a GQ from a multicast snooping querier coupled with the switch. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in more embodiments.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a software-defined network (SDN) controller including a processor and logic executable by the processor. The logic is executable by the processor to receive a port addition indication that a logical port is configured on a switching device, the switching device being coupled to the SDN controller and a second device, with the logical port representing a link aggregation group (LAG) that includes at least two links between the switching device and the second device. The logic is also executable by the processor to derive and maintain a logical index for all logical ports in software-defined switching devices connected to the SDN controller based on logical port identifiers thereof. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in accordance with more embodiments.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a multicast snooping querier configured to send and receive Internet Group Membership Protocol (IGMP) messages, and one or more IGMP switches interconnected to form a network, wherein at least one of the one or more IGMP switches is connected to the multicast snooping querier, wherein the one or more IGMP switches are configured to: handle IGMP messages, and create a general query solicit (GQS) message configured to solicit a general query from the multicast snooping querier, and wherein the multicast snooping querier is configured to send out a general query (GQ) message on all ports in response to receiving the GQS message to solicit port information and group membership information from each of the one or more IGMP switches. In other embodiments, systems, methods and computer program products are described to enable fast recovery of multicast router ports, upon a STP topology change.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a switching processor and switching logic integrated with and/or executable by the switching processor. The switching logic is configured to install a Multicast Control (MC) table on the switching processor, the MC table facilitating management of switching across a virtual local area network (VLAN) via the switching processor. The switching logic is also configured to install a multicast router flood entry on the MC table at least partially in response to detecting that at least one multicast router is communicatively coupled to a port of the system, and receive at least one multicast packet at the switching processor. Moreover, the switching logic is configured to send the at least one multicast packet to a received multicast packet destination at least partially in response to determining the received multicast packet destination based at least in part on the multicast router flood entry.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a software-defined network (SDN) controller including a processor and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor, the logic being configured to: receive a port addition indication that a logical port is configured on a switching device, the switching device being connected to the SDN controller and a second device, wherein the logical port represents a link aggregation group (LAG) that includes at least two links between the switching device and the second device, and derive and maintain a logical index for all logical ports in software-defined switching devices connected to the SDN controller based on logical port identifiers thereof.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to controllable virtual link aggregation Internet Protocol (IP) forwarding. One embodiment includes forming a first virtual link aggregation (vLAG) between a first pair of switches for a first system that implements virtual router redundancy protocol (VRRP). A second vLAG is formed between a second pair of switches for a second system that implements VRRP. A VRRP role is forwarded by each switch of the first pair of switches and the second pair of switches to one another. The VRRP role is synchronized between each of the first pair of switches and the second pair of switches. VRRP packets are forwarded to particular switch ports of the first pair of switches and the second pair of switches.

Abstract: A PIM vLAG network load balancing system includes a first vLAG switch and a second vLAG switch each connected to, and receive data traffic from, an upstream network device. The first and second vLAG switches balance network data traffic by both determining a source IP address and a multicast group address associated with the received data traffic, hashing the addresses, combining the hashed addresses to determine a resultant value, and either dropping or transmitting the received data traffic to a downstream network device based upon the resultant value. The first vLAG switch may transmit and the second vLAG switch may drop the received data traffic if the resultant value is a first binary value. The second vLAG switch may transmit and the first vLAG switch may drop the received data traffic if the resultant value is a second binary value.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a multicast snooping querier configured to send and receive Internet Group Membership Protocol (IGMP) messages, and one or more IGMP switches interconnected to form a network, wherein at least one of the one or more IGMP switches is connected to the multicast snooping querier, wherein the one or more IGMP switches are configured to: handle IGMP messages, and create a general query solicit (GQS) message configured to solicit a general query from the multicast snooping querier, and wherein the multicast snooping querier is configured to send out a general query (GQ) message on all ports in response to receiving the GQS message to solicit port information and group membership information from each of the one or more IGMP switches. In other embodiments, systems, methods and computer program products are described to enable fast recovery of multicast router ports, upon a STP topology change.