Abstract: Systems and methods may be provided embodying an optimized Trill LAN network hello mode. The optimized hello mode may allow the number of LAN hellos exchanged to be reduced significantly in a steady state mode of operation. No modifications to the current Trill specification are needed and in a converged state (when designated RBridge election and appointed forwarder appointments are complete), only 1 hello PDU per RBridge is originated in every hello interval.

Abstract: A method for changing network configuration parameters that includes generating a request to change a network configuration parameter, where the request is generated by a virtual machine, sending the request to a virtual network interface card (VNIC) associated with the virtual machine, sending the request to a VNIC configuration database associated with the VNIC, determining whether the virtual machine is allowed to change the network configuration parameter, if the virtual machine is allowed to change the network configuration parameter, updating the VNIC configuration database and VNIC to reflect the change in the network configuration parameter, and notifying the virtual machine that the change in network configuration parameter is allowed, and if the virtual machine is not allowed to change the network configuration parameter, dropping the request.

Abstract: A system (including a processor, a host having a network multipath daemon, and multiple network interfaces) and method involving issuing, by an active interface, an Internet Protocol probe packet (IPPP) to a probe target, issuing, by an alternate interface, a transitive probe packet (TPP) to the active interface, where the alternate interface and the active interface belong to a broadcast domain. The system and method further involve awaiting, by the active interface, a responsive IPPP from the probe target, awaiting by the alternate interface, a responsive TPP from the active interface, and determining network conditions based upon receiving at least one of the responsive IPPP and the responsive TPP.

Abstract: A method for configuring a packet destination, that includes creating the packet destination on a host, obtaining a network configuration for the packet destination, determining whether the host comprises a virtual network stack, where the virtual network stack includes the network configuration, and assigning the packet destination to the virtual network stack.

Abstract: Systems and methods may be provided embodying an optimized Trill LAN network hello mode. The optimized hello mode may allow the number of LAN hellos exchanged to be reduced significantly in a steady state mode of operation. No modifications to the current Trill specification are needed and in a converged state (when designated RBridge election and appointed forwarder appointments are complete), only 1 hello PDU per RBridge is originated in every hello interval.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing a network connection in a computer system including a software network protocol stack and a network interface card including a hardware network protocol stack are disclosed. State information associated with the network connection is provided to or received by the driver associated with the network interface card. The driver provides the state information to the network interface card, thereby enabling the network interface card to process the network connection. In addition, any packet that is processed by the network interface card is also provided to the driver. Since the driver can maintain a copy of the state information and a copy of the data packet, the software network protocol stack can obtain the state information and the data packet from the driver in the event of a failure of the network interface card.

Abstract: A method for configuring a network on a host includes obtaining a first virtual network stack and a second virtual network stack on the host, configuring a first transport layer implementation on the first virtual network stack, configuring a second transport layer implementation on the second virtual network stack, receiving a packet by the host, sending a packet to the first virtual network stack, and processing the packet using the first transport layer implementation.

Abstract: A computer readable medium including instructions executable by a processor to perform a method, the method including obtaining a packet by a load balancer, obtaining queued packet information for a plurality of target hosts operatively connected to the load balancer, selecting the one of the plurality of target hosts using the queued packet information, and sending the packet to the selected target host using a first communication channel between the load balancer and the selected target host.

Abstract: A method for processing a packet that includes receiving a packet for a target, classifying the packet, and sending the packet to a receive ring based on the classification. The method also includes obtaining an identifier (ID) associated with the target based on the classification, and sending a request for virtual memory that includes the ID. Furthermore, the method includes determining, using the ID, whether the target has exceeded a virtual memory allocation associated with the target. In addition, the method includes allocating the virtual memory, storing the packet in the virtual memory, and updating the virtual memory allocation associated with the target to reflect the allocation of the virtual memory, all if the target does not exceed the virtual memory allocation. The method further includes waiting until the target is not exceeding the virtual memory allocation if the target exceeds the virtual memory allocation.

Abstract: In general, embodiments of the invention relates to a method for controlling network traffic in a chassis. The method includes assigning control of a network express manager located in the chassis to a control virtual machine selected from a number of virtual machines. The method further includes configuring the network express manager, by the control virtual machine, where the network express manager is configured to route network traffic in the chassis. The method further includes implementing a virtual network path using the network express manager, where the virtual network path includes a virtual wire between a first VNIC and a second VNIC, where the first VNIC is located in a first computer and the second VNIC is located in a second computer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for routing packets. The method includes receiving a first packet to route, obtaining a first route entry using a first IP address associated with the first packet, where the first route entry includes a first prefix, a first route nexthop generation (RNG) and a first route nexthop pointer (RNP) to a second route entry. The method further includes comparing a route generation (RG) for the second route entry with the first RNG where the RG for the second route entry and the first RNG are equal, obtaining a first neighbor cache entry (NCE) from a first NCE pointer (NP) stored in the first route entry, and routing the first packet using the ARP information in the first NCE, where a route dependency list pointer (RDLP) in the second route entry points to the first route entry.

Abstract: The method involves issuing, by an active interface, an Internet Protocol probe packet (IPPP) to a probe target, issuing, by a first alternate interface, a first transitive probe packet (TPP) to the active interface, where the first alternate interface and the active interface belong to a broadcast domain. The method further involves awaiting, by the active interface, a responsive IPPP from the probe target, awaiting, by the first alternate interface, a first responsive TPP from the active interface, and determining network conditions based upon receiving at least one of the responsive IPPP and the first responsive TPP.

Abstract: In a particular embodiment of the present invention, a particular node in an ad hoc network is configured with a desirable number of neighbor nodes and equipped with a transmission power level hierarchy. The particular node may adjust a transmission power level to a different level in the transmission power level hierarchy, based on a number of responses received from neighbor nodes after the particular node broadcasts a request at current transmission power level. This adjustment process is repeated until the particular node acquires a desirable number of neighbor nodes.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer readable medium for reconfiguring a virtual network path. A virtual switching table associated with virtual network interface cards (VNICs) is populated and used to implement the virtual network path. The virtual network path includes a first virtual wire between a first VNIC located in a first computer and a second VNIC located in a second computer. A first network packet and a second network packet are placed in a receive buffer associated with the second VNIC. The first network packet is transmitted to the second VNIC using the virtual switching table. The second VNIC is migrated from the second computer to a third computer. The virtual switching table is updated based on migrating the second VNIC. The second network packet is transmitted to the second VNIC in the third computer using the virtual switching table.

Abstract: A system includes a physical NIC associated with the computer and including receive rings for storing network traffic addressed to the VNIC, where the receive rings include a local receive ring for storing local traffic and a forwarding receive ring for storing forwarding traffic. The physical NIC further includes a hardware classifier configured to register a local Internet Protocol (IP) address associated with the VNIC in a lookup table, receive a packet including a destination IP address, classify the packet as local traffic or forwarding traffic using the lookup table, and store the packet in the local receive ring or the forwarding receive ring based on the type. The VNIC is configured to retrieve the packet from the receive ring, and process the packet in a type-specific manner based on the receive ring where the packet was stored, where the type-specific manner is different for local traffic and forwarding traffic.

Abstract: In a particular embodiment of the present invention, a forwarding node in an ad hoc network collects sets of node information pertaining to its neighbor nodes. An example of a type of node information is history information that indicates previous time periods during which a neighbor node has been available for communication. Other types of node information may include proximity information that indicates how far a neighbor node is from the forwarding node. In selecting a routing path, the forwarding node takes into account information collected in the sets of node information. A routing path can be selected to include a neighbor node having the highest probability to be available for communication. Additionally or alternatively, a routing path may be selected to minimize the power transmission level required for the forwarding node to forward data packets.

Abstract: A method for changing network configuration parameters that includes generating a request to change a network configuration parameter by a user, determining whether the user is allowed to change the network configuration parameter using a network configuration database, if the user is allowed to change the network configuration parameter, updating the network configuration database to reflect the change in the network configuration parameter, updating a container associated with the network configuration parameter to reflect the change in the configuration parameter, and if the user is not allowed to change the network configuration parameter, dropping the request.

Abstract: A method for processing packets that includes receiving a first packet for a first target on a host, prior to sending the packet to a Network Layer in the host, determining the first target of the first packet, obtaining a first target ID associated with the first target, obtaining a first virtual network stack (VNS) instance ID using the first target ID, and obtaining a first VNS Instance parameter using the first VNS instance ID, sending the first packet to the Network Layer, and processing the first packet in the Network Layer using the first VNS Instance parameter to obtain a first network processed packet.

Abstract: A method for processing packets that includes receiving a first packet for a first target by a network interface card (NIC), classifying the first packet, sending the first packet to a first receive ring in the NIC based on the classification of the first packet, sending the first packet to a Network Layer from the first receive ring, sending a first virtual network stack (VNS) Instance ID associated with the first receive ring to the Network Layer, obtaining a first VNS Instance parameter using the first VNS Instance ID, and processing the first packet in the Network Layer using the first VNS Instance parameter to obtain a first network processed packet.

Abstract: A computer readable medium including instructions executable by a processor to perform a method, the method including obtaining a packet by a load balancer, obtaining queued packet information for a plurality of target hosts operatively connected to the load balancer, selecting the one of the plurality of target hosts using the queued packet information, and sending the packet to the selected target host using a first communication channel between the load balancer and the selected target host.