Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to providing interoperability between hosts supporting multiple encapsulation. One embodiment includes a method that includes mapping packet encapsulation protocol type information for virtual switches. Each virtual switch is associated with one or more virtual machines (VMs). It is determined whether one or more common encapsulation protocol types exist for a first VM associated with a first virtual switch and a second VM associated with a second virtual switch based on the mapping. A common encapsulation protocol type is selected if it is determined that one or more common encapsulation protocol types exist for the first virtual switch and the second virtual switch. A packet is encapsulated for communication between the first VM and the second VM using the selected common encapsulation protocol type.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a server running a virtualization platform, the virtualization platform including logic adapted for creating one or more virtual machines (VMs) and logic adapted for managing a virtual switch (vSwitch), a controller in communication with the server, the controller including logic adapted for assigning a media access control (MAC) address and a virtual local area network (VLAN) identifier (ID) to each of the one or more VMs, wherein a specific tenant to which the one or more VMs belongs is indicated using a tenant ID derived from the VLAN ID, the MAC address, or a combination thereof. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are also described according to more embodiments.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a system includes an accelerated network interface card (NIC), the accelerated NIC including a plurality of network ports including multiple Peripheral Component Interconnect express (PCIe) ports, an Overlay Network Offload System (ONOS), the ONOS including logic configured to provide overlay functionality to network traffic received by the accelerated NIC, and logic configured to cause network traffic that has overlay functionality provided by a hypervisor to bypass the ONOS. In another embodiment, a method for accelerating overlay functionality in a server includes providing overlay functionality for at least some network traffic received by an accelerated NIC implemented in a server, wherein the accelerated NIC provides an interface between the server and a network, and causing network traffic that has overlay functionality provided by a hypervisor of the server to bypass the accelerated NIC.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for overlaying a virtual network on a physical network in a data center environment. An overlay system is arranged in an overlay virtual network to include an overlay agent and an overlay helper. The overlay agent is implemented in an access switch. The overlay helper is implemented in an end station that is in communication with the access switch. Overlay parameters in compliance with an in-band protocol are transmitted between the overlay agent and the overlay helper.

Abstract: A data handling network includes a management system and a plurality of devices in communication with the management system. Each device may operate under various configurations. The management system includes a configuration version table that includes a device identifier and an intended configuration version number. A configuration manager within a device queries the management system with a query that includes a device identifier and a current device operating configuration version number. The management system may interrogate the configuration version table to determine if the current device operating configuration version number is similar to the intended configuration version number.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a server includes an accelerated network interface card (NIC), the accelerated NIC including a plurality of network ports including multiple Peripheral Component Interconnect express (PCIe) ports, an Overlay Network Offload System (ONOS), the ONOS including logic adapted for providing overlay functionality to network traffic received by the accelerated NIC, a first receiving/transmitting (RX/TX) packet buffer adapted for caching network traffic sent to or received from a network, a second RX/TX packet buffer adapted for caching the network traffic received from or sent to the server, and an Ethernet controller adapted for interfacing with the network. The server also includes a hypervisor coupled to one or more virtual machines (VMs) and a NIC driver adapted for interfacing with and supporting the accelerated NIC, wherein the NIC driver includes logic adapted for managing operations of the accelerated NIC.

Abstract: Methods are provided for overlaying a virtual network on a physical network in a data center environment. An overlay system is arranged in an overlay virtual network to include an overlay agent and an overlay helper. The overlay agent is implemented in an access switch. The overlay helper is implemented in an end station that is in communication with the access switch. Overlay parameters in compliance with an in-band protocol are transmitted between the overlay agent and the overlay helper.

Abstract: An approach is provided which a system selects a first virtual function from a plurality of virtual functions executing on a network adapter that includes a memory area. Next, the system allocates, in the memory area, a memory corresponding to the first virtual function. The system then stores one or more translation entries in the allocated memory partition, which are utilized to send data traversing through the first virtual function. As such, the system sends, utilizing one or more of the translation entries, the data packets from the network adapter to one or more destinations. In turn, the system dynamically resizes the memory partition based upon an amount of the memory partition that is utilized to store the one or more translation entries.

Abstract: An approach is provided which a system selects a first virtual function from a plurality of virtual functions executing on a network adapter that includes a memory area. Next, the system allocates, in the memory area, a memory corresponding to the first virtual function. The system then stores one or more translation entries in the allocated memory partition, which are utilized to send data traversing through the first virtual function. As such, the system sends, utilizing one or more of the translation entries, the data packets from the network adapter to one or more destinations. In turn, the system dynamically resizes the memory partition based upon an amount of the memory partition that is utilized to store the one or more translation entries.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a first physical overlay switch located at an edge of an IP network includes logic adapted for: receiving a packet having a virtual local area network (VLAN) identifier (ID) from a virtual switch, encapsulating the packet with an overlay header, tunneling the encapsulated packet via the IP network to a second physical overlay switch, receiving a second encapsulated packet having a second overlay header from the second physical overlay switch, de-encapsulating the second encapsulated packet to create a second packet having a second VLAN ID, and sending the second packet to the virtual switch.

Abstract: An approach is provided in which a virtual function, which executes on a network adapter, receives a data packet from a first virtual machine. A translation entry is identified that corresponds to sending the data packet from the first virtual machine to a second virtual machine, and a determination is made as to whether an onboard memory partition assigned to the virtual function includes the identified translation. If the onboard memory location includes the translation entry, the data packet is sent to the destination virtual machine using the translation entry retrieved from the onboard memory partition. Otherwise, if the translation entry is not located in the onboard memory partition, the data packet is sent to the destination virtual machine using a translation entry retrieved from an off board memory location.

Abstract: Systems are provided for overlaying a virtual network on a physical network in a data center environment. An overlay system is arranged in an overlay virtual network to include an overlay agent and an overlay helper. The overlay agent is implemented in an access switch. The overlay helper is implemented in an end station that is in communication with the access switch. Overlay parameters in compliance with an in-band protocol are transmitted between the overlay agent and the overlay helper.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an apparatus and method for asymmetrical link aggregation is disclosed, wherein the method is implemented in an access switch, the access switch connects to at least two aggregation switches through a first set of ports and respective links, the access switch connects to an external network through a second set of ports, and the at least two aggregation switches connects to an internal network, the method comprising: in response to receiving a frame from one of the second set of ports, selecting one of the first set of ports based on the source address of the frame; and sending the frame using the selected one of the first set of ports.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method for packet distribution in a virtual networking system comprising multiple virtual networks interconnected over an underlying layer network, wherein each virtual network comprises one or more computing nodes. The method comprises, for each virtual network, sending at least one outgoing packet targeting a computing node at a different virtual network, and receiving at least one incoming packet targeting a computing node of the virtual network. Each packet has a corresponding virtual networking tag that includes routing information identifying a destination virtual network for the packet.

Abstract: A switching network includes an upper tier including a master switch and a lower tier including a plurality of lower tier entities. The master switch includes a plurality of ports each coupled to a respective one of the plurality of lower tier entities. Each of the plurality of ports includes a plurality of virtual ports each corresponding to a respective one of a plurality of remote physical interfaces (RPIs) at the lower tier entity coupled to that port. Each of the plurality of ports also includes a receive interface that, responsive to receipt of data traffic from a particular lower tier entity among the plurality of lower tier entities, queues the data traffic to the virtual port among the plurality of virtual ports that corresponds to the RPI on the particular lower tier entity that was the source of the data traffic.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to providing interoperability between hosts supporting multiple encapsulation. One embodiment includes a method that includes mapping packet encapsulation protocol type information for virtual switches. Each virtual switch is associated with one or more virtual machines (VMs). It is determined whether one or more common encapsulation protocol types exist for a first VM associated with a first virtual switch and a second VM associated with a second virtual switch based on the mapping. A common encapsulation protocol type is selected if it is determined that one or more common encapsulation protocol types exist for the first virtual switch and the second virtual switch. A packet is encapsulated for communication between the first VM and the second VM using the selected common encapsulation protocol type.

Abstract: Packet processing logic of a host system's virtualization manager detects packets on the ingress or the egress path to/from a virtual port having three bitmap arrays for processing packets within a virtual local area network (VLAN). The logic checks the VLAN identifier (VID) of the packet to determine, based on an offset position within the corresponding bitmap array, whether the port supports the VLAN. Both the ingress array offset position and egress array offset positions correspond to the value of the VID, and are set within the specific bitmap array during configuration of the VLAN on the port. When the VLAN is supported by the port, the logic enables the packet to be processed by the port. Otherwise, the logic discards the packet. A strip bitmap array indicates when a packet's VID should be removed prior to forwarding the packet on the egress of a port (or destination port).

Abstract: A switching network includes an upper tier including a master switch and a lower tier including a plurality of lower tier entities. The master switch includes a plurality of ports each coupled to a respective one of the plurality of lower tier entities. Each port includes a plurality of virtual ports each corresponding to a respective one of a plurality of remote physical interfaces (RPIs) at the lower tier entity coupled to that port. Each port also includes a receive interface that, responsive to data traffic from a particular lower tier entity, queues the data traffic to the virtual port that corresponds to the RPI on the particular lower tier entity that was the source of the data traffic. The master switch further includes a switch controller that switches data traffic from the virtual port to an egress port from which the data traffic is forwarded.

Abstract: A technique for operating a virtual switch includes determining network connection requirements for virtual machines controlled by a virtual machine monitor. Resources available, for processing data traffic of the virtual machines, are also determined. Finally, based on the network connection requirements and the resources available, a port of a virtual switch is selected to operate as a virtual Ethernet bridge or a virtual Ethernet port aggregator.

Abstract: A technique for operating a virtual switch includes determining network connection requirements for virtual machines controlled by a virtual machine monitor. Resources available, for processing data traffic of the virtual machines, are also determined. Finally, based on the network connection requirements and the resources available, a port of a virtual switch is selected to operate as a virtual Ethernet bridge or a virtual Ethernet port aggregator.