Patents by Inventor Kai-Wei Fan

Kai-Wei Fan has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20250106141
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for controlling flow processing by an edge cluster including a first edge machine set operating in a first location set of a public cloud and a second edge machine set operating in a second location set of the public cloud. A controller set configures first and second managed forwarding element (MFE) sets operating in the first and second location sets respectively, with first and second forwarding rule sets to respectively forward first and second flows sets to the first and second edge machine sets for performing services. The first forwarding rule set specifies a first network address set for the first edge machine set, and the second forwarding rule set specifies a second network address set for the second edge machine set. The controller set monitors each edge machine to determine whether it is available to perform the services.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2024
    Publication date: March 27, 2025
    Inventors: Minjal Agarwal, Yong Wang, Abhishek Goliya, Kai-Wei Fan
  • Publication number: 20250036437
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for configuring a first Pod in a container cluster to perform layer 7 (L7) services for a logical router. At a second Pod that performs logical forwarding operations for the logical router, the method receives configuration data for the logical router from a network management system that defines a logical network for which the logical router routes data messages and performs L7 services. The method provides a set of Pod definition data to a cluster controller to create the first Pod. After creation of the first Pod, the method provides to the first Pod (i) networking information to enable a connection between the first and second Pods and (ii) configuration data defining the L7 services for the first Pod to perform the L7 services on data traffic sent from the second Pod to the first Pod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2023
    Publication date: January 30, 2025
    Applicant: VMware, Inc.
    Inventors: Yu Ying, Pankaj Gupta, Kai-Wei Fan, Stephen Tan, Sreeram Kumar Ravinoothala, Yong Wang
  • Publication number: 20240380696
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a network system. The network system includes a first set of host machines for hosting virtual machines that connect to each other through a logical network. The first set of host machines includes managed forwarding elements for forwarding data between the host machines. The network system includes a second set of host machines for hosting virtualized containers that operate as gateways for forwarding data between the virtual machines and an external network. At least one of the virtualized containers peers with at least one physical router in the external network in order to advertise addresses of the virtual machines to the physical router.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2024
    Publication date: November 14, 2024
    Inventors: Ariel Tubaltsev, Ronghua Zhang, Benjamin C. Basler, Serge Maskalik, Rajiv Ramanathan, David J. Leroy, Srinivas Neginhal, Kai-Wei Fan, Ansis Atteka
  • Patent number: 12047286
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a network system. The network system includes a first set of host machines for hosting virtual machines that connect to each other through a logical network. The first set of host machines includes managed forwarding elements for forwarding data between the host machines. The network system includes a second set of host machines for hosting virtualized containers that operate as gateways for forwarding data between the virtual machines and an external network. At least one of the virtualized containers peers with at least one physical router in the external network in order to advertise addresses of the virtual machines to the physical router.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Nicira, Inc.
    Inventors: Ariel Tubaltsev, Ronghua Zhang, Benjamin C. Basler, Serge Maskalik, Rajiv Ramanathan, David J. Leroy, Srinivas Neginhal, Kai-Wei Fan, Ansis Atteka
  • Patent number: 11962564
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for forwarding data messages at multiple edge nodes of a logical network that process data messages between a logical network and an external network. At a particular one of the edge nodes, the method receives a data message sent from a source machine in the logical network. The method performs network address translation to translate a source network address of the data message corresponding to the source machine into an anycast network address that is shared among the edge nodes. The method sends the data message with the anycast network address as a source network address to the external network. Each edge node receives data messages from source machines in the logical network and translates the source addresses of the data messages into the same anycast public network address prior to sending the data messages to the external network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: VMware LLC
    Inventors: Yong Wang, Xinhua Hong, Kai-Wei Fan
  • Publication number: 20240007419
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for handling failure at one of several peer centralized components of a logical router. At a first one of the peer centralized components of the logical router, the method detects that a second one of the peer centralized components has failed. In response to the detection, the method automatically identifies a network layer address of the failed second peer. The method assumes responsibility for data traffic to the failed peer by broadcasting a message on a logical switch that connects all of the peer centralized components and a distributed component of the logical router. The message instructs recipients to associate the identified network layer address with a data link layer address of the first peer centralized component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: Ronghua Zhang, Ganesan Chandrashekhar, Sreeram Kumar Ravinoothala, Kai-Wei Fan
  • Patent number: 11799800
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for handling failure at one of several peer centralized components of a logical router. At a first one of the peer centralized components of the logical router, the method detects that a second one of the peer centralized components has failed. In response to the detection, the method automatically identifies a network layer address of the failed second peer. The method assumes responsibility for data traffic to the failed peer by broadcasting a message on a logical switch that connects all of the peer centralized components and a distributed component of the logical router. The message instructs recipients to associate the identified network layer address with a data link layer address of the first peer centralized component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: NICIRA, INC.
    Inventors: Ronghua Zhang, Ganesan Chandrashekhar, Sreeram Ravinoothala, Kai-Wei Fan
  • Publication number: 20230262022
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for forwarding data messages at multiple edge nodes of a logical network that process data messages between a logical network and an external network. At a particular one of the edge nodes, the method receives a data message sent from a source machine in the logical network. The method performs network address translation to translate a source network address of the data message corresponding to the source machine into an anycast network address that is shared among the edge nodes. The method sends the data message with the anycast network address as a source network address to the external network. Each edge node receives data messages from source machines in the logical network and translates the source addresses of the data messages into the same anycast public network address prior to sending the data messages to the external network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Applicant: VMware, Inc.
    Inventors: Yong Wang, Xinhua Hong, Kai-Wei Fan
  • Publication number: 20230124797
    Abstract: In order to enable dynamic scaling of network services at the edge, novel systems and methods are provided to enable addition of add new nodes or removal of existing nodes while retaining the affinity of the flows through the stateful services. The methods provide a cluster of network nodes that can be dynamically resized to handle and process network traffic that utilizes stateful network services. The existing traffic flows through the edge continue to function during and after the changes to membership of the cluster. All nodes in the cluster operate in active-active mode, i.e., they are receiving and processing traffic flows, thereby maximizing the utilization of the available processing power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Mike Parsa, Jayant Jain, Xinhua Hong, Anirban Sengupta, Kai-Wei Fan
  • Publication number: 20230037171
    Abstract: Described herein are systems, methods, and software to manage state information and failover between edge gateways (edges) in a computing environment. In one example, a first edge receives state information associated with one or more logical routers on a second edge. The first edge further identifies a failure in association with the second edge and, in response to the failure, make one or more logical routers available in the first edge to operate in place of the one or more logical routers in the second edge based on the state information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: JAYANT JAIN, Xinhua Hong, Yong Wang, Abhishek Goliya, Kai-Wei Fan
  • Patent number: 11533255
    Abstract: In order to enable dynamic scaling of network services at the edge, novel systems and methods are provided to enable addition of add new nodes or removal of existing nodes while retaining the affinity of the flows through the stateful services. The methods provide a cluster of network nodes that can be dynamically resized to handle and process network traffic that utilizes stateful network services. The existing traffic flows through the edge continue to function during and after the changes to membership of the cluster. All nodes in the cluster operate in active-active mode, i.e., they are receiving and processing traffic flows, thereby maximizing the utilization of the available processing power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: NICIRA, INC.
    Inventors: Mike Parsa, Jayant Jain, Xinhua Hong, Anirban Sengupta, Kai-Wei Fan
  • Patent number: 11418382
    Abstract: A method for cooperative active-standby failover between service routers based on health of services configured on the service routers is presented. In an embodiment, a method comprises determining, by a first service router (“SR”) of a SR cluster, a plurality of aggregate score values for a plurality of SRs of the SR clusters. The SR cluster comprises the first SR which is active, and a second SR. An aggregate score value, of the plurality of aggregate score values, indicates health of one or more services configured on a SR. The method further comprises determining, based on the plurality of aggregate score values, whether the first SR, of the SR cluster, is healthier than the second SR. In response to determining that the first SR is healthier than the second SR, the first SR continues to operate in the active mode; otherwise, the first SR switches to a standby mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: VMware, Inc.
    Inventors: Haihua Luo, Jerry Cheng, Kai-Wei Fan, Michael Hu
  • Patent number: 11349706
    Abstract: A method for providing two-channel-based high-availability in a cluster of nodes is disclosed. In an embodiment, a method comprises: initiating, by a local control plane executing on a first node, a first state for an underlay control channel and a second state for a management control channel; detecting a bidirectional forwarding detection (BFD) control packet from a second node; determining whether the BFD control packet has been received from the underlay control channel; in response to determining that the BFD control packet was received from the underlay control channel: parsing the BFD control packet to extract a first diagnostic code; updating the first state with the first diagnostic code; determining whether both the first state and the second state indicate a need to switch services configured on the second node; in response to the determining, initiating a switchover of services configured on the second node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: VMware, Inc.
    Inventors: Kai-Wei Fan, Haihua Luo, Stephen Tan
  • Publication number: 20220141155
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for handling failure at one of several peer centralized components of a logical router. At a first one of the peer centralized components of the logical router, the method detects that a second one of the peer centralized components has failed. In response to the detection, the method automatically identifies a network layer address of the failed second peer. The method assumes responsibility for data traffic to the failed peer by broadcasting a message on a logical switch that connects all of the peer centralized components and a distributed component of the logical router. The message instructs recipients to associate the identified network layer address with a data link layer address of the first peer centralized component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2022
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: Ronghua Zhang, Ganesan Chandrashekhar, Sreeram Ravinoothala, Kai-Wei Fan
  • Patent number: 11283731
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for handling failure at one of several peer centralized components of a logical router. At a first one of the peer centralized components of the logical router, the method detects that a second one of the peer centralized components has failed. In response to the detection, the method automatically identifies a network layer address of the failed second peer. The method assumes responsibility for data traffic to the failed peer by broadcasting a message on a logical switch that connects all of the peer centralized components and a distributed component of the logical router. The message instructs recipients to associate the identified network layer address with a data link layer address of the first peer centralized component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: NICIRA, INC.
    Inventors: Ronghua Zhang, Ganesan Chandrashekhar, Sreeram Ravinoothala, Kai-Wei Fan
  • Patent number: 11102186
    Abstract: Example methods are provided for a network device to perform packet capture in a software-defined networking (SDN) environment. One example method may comprise detecting an egress packet that includes an inner header addressed from a first node to a second node; and identifying a security policy applicable to the egress packet by comparing one or more fields in the inner header with one or more match fields specified by the security policy. The method may further comprise: based on the security policy, capturing the egress packet in an unencrypted form; performing encryption on the egress packet to generate an encrypted packet that includes the egress packet in an encrypted form; and sending the encrypted packet to the second node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: VMWARE, INC.
    Inventors: Yong Wang, Xinhua Hong, Kai-Wei Fan
  • Publication number: 20210258254
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a network system. The network system includes a first set of host machines for hosting virtual machines that connect to each other through a logical network. The first set of host machines includes managed forwarding elements for forwarding data between the host machines. The network system includes a second set of host machines for hosting virtualized containers that operate as gateways for forwarding data between the virtual machines and an external network. At least one of the virtualized containers peers with at least one physical router in the external network in order to advertise addresses of the virtual machines to the physical router.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventors: Ariel Tubaltsev, Ronghua Zhang, Benjamin C. Basler, Serge Maskalik, Rajiv Ramanathan, David J. Leroy, Srinivas Neginhal, Kai-Wei Fan, Ansis Atteka
  • Patent number: 11025543
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a network system. The network system includes a first set of host machines for hosting virtual machines that connect to each other through a logical network. The first set of host machines includes managed forwarding elements for forwarding data between the host machines. The network system includes a second set of host machines for hosting virtualized containers that operate as gateways for forwarding data between the virtual machines and an external network. At least one of the virtualized containers peers with at least one physical router in the external network in order to advertise addresses of the virtual machines to the physical router.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: NICIRA, INC.
    Inventors: Ariel Tubaltsev, Ronghua Zhang, Benjamin C Basler, Serge Maskalik, Rajiv Ramanathan, David J Leroy, Srinivas Neginhal, Kai-Wei Fan, Ansis Atteka
  • Patent number: 10938788
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for configuring a gateway datapath that processes data messages between a logical network implemented in a datacenter and an external network. The method receives configuration data including security policy rules for a logical router implemented by the datapath that indicate whether to apply a security protocol to certain data messages transmitted from a particular interface of the logical router. The method identifies a particular security policy rule that applies to data messages that (i) have a destination address in a set of destination addresses and (ii) meet at least one additional criteria. The method generates a static route, for a routing table used by the datapath to implement the logical router, that routes data messages with destination addresses in the set of destination addresses to the particular interface. The datapath applies the security policy rules for data messages transmitted from the particular interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: VMWARE, INC.
    Inventors: Yong Wang, Xinhua Hong, David J. Leroy, Kai-Wei Fan
  • Publication number: 20200267095
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for handling failure at one of several peer centralized components of a logical router. At a first one of the peer centralized components of the logical router, the method detects that a second one of the peer centralized components has failed. In response to the detection, the method automatically identifies a network layer address of the failed second peer. The method assumes responsibility for data traffic to the failed peer by broadcasting a message on a logical switch that connects all of the peer centralized components and a distributed component of the logical router. The message instructs recipients to associate the identified network layer address with a data link layer address of the first peer centralized component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: Ronghua Zhang, Ganesan Chandrashekhar, Sreeram Ravinoothala, Kai-Wei Fan