Abstract: A method and system provide for inline packet response generation implemented by a network device functioning as a switch in a software defined networking (SDN) network. The method configures the flow control pipeline to enable the inline response generation without use of the control channel and SDN controller after configuration. The method includes connecting with the SDN controller, receiving a packet out data packet from SDN controller with a template message and a buffer identifier (ID) for the template message, and identifying the received packet out data packet as containing the template message. The method further includes installing the template message into a buffer with corresponding buffer ID, receiving a first data packet from the SDN controller identifying matching criteria and the buffer ID, and updating a flow control pipeline to match on the matching criteria and to point to the buffer with the buffer ID.

Abstract: A software defined networking (SDN) system includes a switch, a service function chain (SFC) proxy, and a controller communicatively coupled to the SFC proxy and the switch. The controller is configured to obtain a translation rule for a SFC encapsulation provided by the SFC proxy, responsive to obtaining the translation rule transmit one or more instructions to the switch to program the switch to translate packets belonging to a flow associated with the SFC encapsulation according to the translation rule and to forward the packets belonging to the flow associated with the SFC encapsulation to a service function (SF) in a manner that causes the packets belonging to the flow associated with the SFC encapsulation to bypass the SFC proxy, and transmit an indication to the SFC proxy that the packets belonging to the flow associated with the SFC encapsulation are to bypass the SFC proxy.

Abstract: A method is implemented by a network device functioning as a controller in a Software Defined Networking (SDN) network to configure a switch in the SDN network to process packets on behalf of a Service Function Chain (SFC) proxy so that the packets can bypass the SFC proxy. The method includes receiving a translation rule for an SFC encapsulation from the SFC proxy, transmitting SFC proxy bypass instructions to the switch that cause the switch to translate packets belonging to a flow associated with the SFC encapsulation according to the translation rule for the SFC encapsulation and to forward the packets belonging to the flow associated with the SFC encapsulation to a service function while bypassing the SFC proxy, and transmitting an indication to the SFC proxy that the packets belonging to the flow associated with the SFC encapsulation are to bypass the SFC proxy.

Abstract: A method is implemented by a network device functioning as a controller in a Software Defined Networking (SDN) network to configure a switch in the SDN network to process packets on behalf of a Service Function Chain (SFC) proxy so that the packets can bypass the SFC proxy. The method includes receiving a translation rule for an SFC encapsulation from the SFC proxy, transmitting SFC proxy bypass instructions to the switch that cause the switch to translate packets belonging to a flow associated with the SFC encapsulation according to the translation rule for the SFC encapsulation and to forward the packets belonging to the flow associated with the SFC encapsulation to a service function while bypassing the SFC proxy, and transmitting an indication to the SFC proxy that the packets belonging to the flow associated with the SFC encapsulation are to bypass the SFC proxy.

Abstract: A method is performed by a network device acting as a switch in a Software Defined Networking (SDN) network, where the switch is coupled to a controller in the SDN network. The method implements variable buffer timeout output actions. The method includes generating a flow entry that includes a packet matching criteria and an output action that specifies a buffer timeout value, receiving a packet for forwarding, determining whether the packet matches the packet matching criteria of the flow entry, and storing the packet in a buffer of the switch in response to determining that the packet matches the packet matching criteria of the flow entry, the buffer to temporarily store the packet while the controller determines processing for the packet. The method further includes associating the buffered packet with the buffer timeout value specified in the flow entry and transmitting a portion of the packet to the controller.

Abstract: A method is performed by a network device acting as a controller in a software defined networking (SDN) network. The method detects control path loops in the SDN network. The method includes receiving a Packet-In message from a switch, where the Packet-In message includes a packet. The method further includes determining a packet identifier associated with the packet, determining a key based on the packet identifier associated with the packet, determining whether an entry associated with the key exists in a loop detection cache, updating a counter value associated with the entry in response to determining that the entry associated with the key exists in the loop detection cache, and determining that the packet is in a control path loop in response to determining that the counter value associated with the entry reaches a threshold value.

Abstract: A method is performed by a network device acting as a switch in a Software Defined Networking (SDN) network, where the switch has established a plurality of connections with a controller in the SDN network. The method implements connection-specific output actions to provide control over which connection from the plurality of connections is to be used by the switch for transmitting packets to the controller. The method includes generating a flow entry that includes a packet matching criteria and an output action that specifies a connection identifier. The method further includes receiving a packet for forwarding, determining whether the packet matches the packet matching criteria of the flow entry, and transmitting the packet to the controller using the connection identified by the connection identifier specified in the flow entry in response to determining that the packet matches the packet matching criteria of the flow entry.

Abstract: A method is performed by a network device acting as a switch in a Software Defined Networking (SDN) network, where the switch is coupled to a controller in the SDN network. The method implements variable buffer timeout output actions. The method includes generating a flow entry that includes a packet matching criteria and an output action that specifies a buffer timeout value, receiving a packet for forwarding, determining whether the packet matches the packet matching criteria of the flow entry, and storing the packet in a buffer of the switch in response to determining that the packet matches the packet matching criteria of the flow entry, the buffer to temporarily store the packet while the controller determines processing for the packet. The method further includes associating the buffered packet with the buffer timeout value specified in the flow entry and transmitting a portion of the packet to the controller.

Abstract: A method is performed by a network device for performing controller-specific output actions. The network device is coupled to a plurality of controllers in a software defined network. The method includes receiving a controller identifier advertisement from a controller of the plurality of controllers, associating the controller identifier with a communication channel to the controller, generating a flow entry that includes a packet matching criteria and an output action that specifies the controller identifier, receiving a packet, determining whether the packet matches the packet matching criteria of the flow entry, and upon determining that the packet matches the packet matching criteria of the flow entry, determining the communication channel associated with the controller identifier specified by the output action of the flow entry and transmitting the packet to the controller via the communication channel.