Abstract: A method implemented in a boundary device located in a first network, the method comprises receiving a first frame from a first node located in a second network, detecting a format of the first frame, wherein the format is compatible with the first node, but is incompatible with a second node located in the first network, converting the first frame to a second frame, wherein the second frame is in a second format that is compatible with the second node, but is incompatible with the first node, and transmitting the second frame towards the second node. A method comprises receiving an overlay management control network (OMCN) frame from a source node located in an OMCN, converting the OMCN frame to an Ethernet frame so that the converting is transparent to a non-OMCN, and transmitting the Ethernet frame towards a destination node located in the non-OMCN.

Abstract: A network element (NE) comprising an ingress port configured to receive a first packet via a multipath network, a plurality of egress ports configured to couple to a plurality of links in the multipath network, and a processor coupled to the ingress port and the plurality of egress ports, wherein the processor is configured to determine that the plurality of egress ports are candidate egress ports for forwarding the first packet, obtain dynamic traffic load information associated with the candidate egress ports, and select a first target egress port from the candidate egress ports for forwarding the first packet according to the dynamic traffic load information.

Abstract: An embodiment method of service chaining in a software defined network (SDN) having SDN switches includes receiving a service chain requirement having a plurality of services. Respective tunnels are then defined for the plurality of services. The method then configures the SDN switches to establish the respective tunnels and form a tunnel chain.

Abstract: A segment based switching architecture with hybrid control providing flow control in software defined networking (SDN). An SDN controller controls top tier macro-flows and virtual segment backbone connections in a network, and an SDN network edge device controls and manages micro-flows that are attached to the SDN network edge device. The SDN network edge device controls and manages the micro-flows locally without using a southbound API. The SDN network edge device learns flow information such as source information and incoming port information for all unknown micro-flows belonging to defined segments, and builds a virtual segment topology database for each segment. The SDN network edge device employs flow computation algorithms and micro-flow management in a distributed fashion. The virtual segment backbone connections are naturally exposed to the SDN controller through provisioning.

Abstract: A method for guaranteeing control traffic throughput in an in-band network configured for delivering control and data traffic, and considering both local and global views of the communication network. The method includes determining an initial configuration for forwarding first control traffic from the packet forwarding device, wherein the initial configuration comprises a first in-band queue for receiving the first control traffic that is delivered over the control path to the controller via a port in the packet forwarding device, and a first bandwidth reserved for the first queue. The method includes performing handshaking with the controller by sending a request to the controller confirming the initial configuration using a network control protocol, and receiving a response from the controller in association with the request. The method includes confirming or modifying the initial configuration based on the response.

Abstract: An apparatus is configured to perform a method for congestion control in an Ethernet network. The method includes determining an egress queue congestion state for each of a plurality of egress queues. The method also includes determining an ingress queue congestion state for each of a plurality of ingress queues. The method further includes determining a flow control state for at least one of the ingress queues based on the determined egress queue congestion states and ingress queue congestion states. In addition, the method includes transmitting a flow control message to the at least one ingress queue based on the determined flow control state.

Abstract: An embodiment method of service chaining in a software defined network (SDN) having SDN switches includes receiving a service chain requirement having a plurality of services. Respective tunnels are then defined for the plurality of services. The method then configures the SDN switches to establish the respective tunnels and form a tunnel chain.

Abstract: A segment based switching architecture with hybrid control providing flow control in software defined networking (SDN). An SDN controller controls top tier macro-flows and virtual segment backbone connections in a network, and an SDN network edge device controls and manages micro-flows that are attached to the SDN network edge device. The SDN network edge device controls and manages the micro-flows locally without using a southbound API. The SDN network edge device learns flow information such as source information and incoming port information for all unknown micro-flows belonging to defined segments, and builds a virtual segment topology database for each segment. The SDN network edge device employs flow computation algorithms and micro-flow management in a distributed fashion. The virtual segment backbone connections are naturally exposed to the SDN controller through provisioning.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a novel solution that enables traditional network management services to be automated without requiring the standard user oversight often required by conventional networking systems. Embodiments of the present invention are operable to utilize in-band communications used by network devices within an existing Layer 2 network to automatically generate a virtualized Layer 2 management network. By using MAC address learning procedures and/or generating a logical convergence state for an existing physical Layer 2 network, embodiments of the present invention can generate a virtual layer 2 network interface that facilitates automatic network connectivity for new and/or existing network devices. As such, embodiments of the present invention can enable communication between various network layers (e.g., Layer 3/Layer 4 networks) that allows network devices to be bootstrapped to an existing network infrastructure in a manner that requires no configuration.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a novel solution that enables traditional network management services to be automated without requiring the standard user oversight often required by conventional networking systems. Embodiments of the present invention are operable to utilize in-band communications used by network devices within an existing Layer 2 network to automatically generate a virtualized Layer 2 management network. By using MAC address learning procedures and/or generating a logical convergence state for an existing physical Layer 2 network, embodiments of the present invention can generate a virtual layer 2 network interface that facilitates automatic network connectivity for new and/or existing network devices. As such, embodiments of the present invention can enable communication between various network layers (e.g., Layer 3/Layer 4 networks) that allows network devices to be bootstrapped to an existing network infrastructure in a manner that requires no configuration.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to enhance the ARP software implementation. Conversational Directly Connected Host routes may be discovered and used to implement conversational forwarding which improves hardware scalability.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to support a large number of hosts while keeping the size of the FIB CAM low. Higher scalability may be achieved by consuming less FIB CAM space as hosts are added to a network. An L3 switching module may be provided capable of supporting a large number of virtual machines and/or hosts while maintaining a small FIB CAM size on a multiple device virtual switching system with port or device level aggregation.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein may disclose systems and methods to employ an enhanced tracker in a P2P scenario to increase P2P performance and efficiency. After receiving a request for content the tracker may assist in obtaining as many chunks of the requested content as possible from the plurality of peers on the local network and may obtain any chunks of the requested content not obtained from the plurality of peer on the local network from a randomly selected list of remote peers.