Abstract: An environment includes at least two network devices and a plurality of downstream devices or networks. The downstream devices or networks are communicatively coupled to network interfaces of the network devices using a plurality of data cables. The data cables each comprise a switch device configured to switch communication paths to the coupled network devices. Each of the data cables communicatively couple each of the network devices to one of the plurality of downstream devices or networks so that each of the downstream devices or networks has a communications path to each of the network devices and a switchable communications path from each of the network devices. The network devices do not arbitrate active/passive status via direct communication. Based on data contained in a reply packet indicating that a request packet sent by the first network device was acknowledged, the first network device determines that the first network device is an active network device.

Abstract: An environment includes at least two network devices and a plurality of downstream devices or networks. The downstream devices or networks are communicatively coupled to network interfaces of the network devices using a plurality of data cables. The data cables each comprise a switch device configured to switch communication paths to the coupled network devices. Each of the data cables communicatively couple each of the network devices to one of the plurality of downstream devices or networks so that each of the downstream devices or networks has a communications path to each of the network devices and a switchable communications path from each of the network devices. The network devices do not arbitrate active/passive status via direct communication. Based on data contained in a reply packet indicating that a request packet sent by the first network device was acknowledged, the first network device determines that the first network device is an active network device.

Abstract: SONiC (Software for Open Networking in the Cloud) is instantiated in a chassis-based networking switch device to enable control plane functionality for the line cards and backplane. The SONiC platform may be configured with a routing table and BGP (border gateway protocol) to provide routing capabilities for the application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) operating on each respective line card. Ethernet ports are utilized within the chassis to enable the utilization of standardized networking protocols, such as protocols on the data link layer (layer 2) within the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) model. The implementation of SONiC and standardized networking techniques creates a simplified and more proficient routing system in the chassis framework.

Abstract: SONiC (Software for Open Networking in the Cloud) is instantiated in a chassis-based networking switch device to enable control plane functionality for the line cards and backplane. The SONiC platform may be configured with a routing table and BGP (border gateway protocol) to provide routing capabilities for the application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) operating on each respective line card. Ethernet ports are utilized within the chassis to enable the utilization of standardized networking protocols, such as protocols on the data link layer (layer 2) within the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) model. The implementation of SONiC and standardized networking techniques creates a simplified and more proficient routing system in the chassis framework.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for network architecture that is a server-centric network architectural design.

Abstract: Functionality is described herein for measuring the performance of a network. The functionality operates by generating a probe packet and injecting the probe packet into the network. The probe packet is configured, using one or more layers of encapsulation, to target a particular network component of interest in the network, or to target a particular collection of network components in the network. A switch to which the probe packet is addressed operates by: (a) generating mirrored information that is associated with the probe packet; (b) decapsulating the probe packet (with respect to its outermost encapsulation) to produce a new probe packet; and (c) passing the new probe packet to a downstream network component, in accordance with a destination address associated with the new probe packet. The functionality uses the mirrored information that has been collected in the above manner to detect various anomalies in the network.

Abstract: Functionality is described herein for measuring the performance of a network. The functionality operates by generating a probe packet and injecting the probe packet into the network. The probe packet is configured, using one or more layers of encapsulation, to target a particular network component of interest in the network, or to target a particular collection of network components in the network. A switch to which the probe packet is addressed operates by: (a) generating mirrored information that is associated with the probe packet; (b) decapsulating the probe packet (with respect to its outermost encapsulation) to produce a new probe packet; and (c) passing the new probe packet to a downstream network component, in accordance with a destination address associated with the new probe packet. The functionality uses the mirrored information that has been collected in the above manner to detect various anomalies in the network.

Abstract: A tracking system is described herein for investigating the behavior of a network. In operation, each switch in the network (or each switch in some subset of switches) may determine whether each original packet that it processes satisfies one or more packet-detection rules. If so, the switch generates a mirrored packet and sends that packet to a load balancer multiplexer, which, in turn, forwards the mirrored packet to a processing module for further analysis. The packet-detection rules hosted by the switches can be designed to select a subset of packets that are of greatest interest, based on any environment-specific objectives. As a result of this behavior, the tracking system can effectively and quickly pinpoint undesirable (and potentially desirable) behavior of the network, without being overwhelmed with too much information.

Abstract: A hybrid Butterfly Cube (“BCube”) architecture is described herein. The BCube architecture is a server-centric network architectural design, and includes a plurality of servers. Each of the plurality of servers may have multiple network ports and serve not only as an end host, but also an intermediate relay node for other servers. The BCube architecture further includes a plurality of switches which are arranged in multiple levels. Each switch has a certain number of network ports for connecting to the servers. The BCube architecture provides multiple parallel paths between any two servers. A packet source routing protocol and a BCube source routing (BSR) protocol are used to determine which path is used for routing a packet between any two servers.

Abstract: A number of data center units in a data center system may be directly connected with each other via switch interfaces. The data center system is server-centric and scalable by storing routing logics (e.g., inter-data center unit logic and/or inner-data center unit logic) at each server to achieve routing, load balancing, and/or fault tolerance. Switch interfaces of the data center units, thus, may be dumb devices and a centralized router for routing data among data center units may be omitted.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for network architecture that is a server-centric network architectural design.