Abstract: A method and apparatus of a device that dynamically changes how management data is managed in response to events detected in a network system is described. In an exemplary embodiment, the device receives an event notification from an agent associated with a managed node. The device further determines if the received event notification triggers a change in how the management data is managed on that manage node. If the event notification does trigger a change, the device determines a command for that manage node that represents that change if how the management data is managed on the managed node. In addition, the device sends the command to the managed, where the agent applies the command to the managed node and the applied command implements the change in how the management data is managed on the managed node.

Abstract: Systems and methods for discovering, testing, and optimizing paths in a network are provided. According to one embodiment, configuration data of a first and second packet forwarding device is obtained by a first and second agent associated with the first and second packet forwarding devices, respectively. Existence of multiple of equal cost links coupling the first and second packet forwarding devices is discovered by a network controller based on the configuration data. For each equal cost link, the network controller then identifies a performance metric and a type of packet transported by the equal cost link by: (i) probing the equal cost link from one side with a variety of test data having different packet characteristics; (ii) recording receipt of the test data on the other side; and (ii) determining the performance metric based on the received test data and timestamps contained within the received test data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that determines a plurality of matching policies for a segment of a dynamic virtualized network is described. A device retrieves a virtual network identifier of the segment, where the virtual network identifier includes a plurality of bits and a plurality of subnets and each of the plurality of subnets is a different subset of the plurality of bits. In addition, the dynamic virtualized network is a virtualized layer 2 network that is overlaid on a layer 3 physical network, where the layer 3 physical network includes a plurality of network access devices, and the segment includes a plurality of endpoints. The device further determines the plurality of matching policies for the segment from the plurality of subnets of the virtual network identifier, where each of the plurality of subnets corresponds to one of the plurality of matching policies.

Abstract: Systems and methods for discovering, testing, and optimizing paths in a network are provided. According to one embodiment, configuration data of a first and second packet forwarding device is obtained by a first and second agent associated with the first and second packet forwarding devices, respectively. Existence of multiple of equal cost links coupling the first and second packet forwarding devices is discovered by a network controller based on the configuration data. For each equal cost link, the network controller then identifies a performance metric and a type of packet transported by the equal cost link by: (i) probing the equal cost link from one side with a variety of test data having different packet characteristics; (ii) recording receipt of the test data on the other side; and (ii) determining the performance metric based on the received test data and timestamps contained within the received test data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that discovers and tests paths in a network is described. In an exemplary embodiment, a device discovers a path by discovering a plurality of equal cost segments between the first and second network elements of the plurality of network elements. The device further generates a plurality of test data packets, wherein each of the test data packets has a different characteristic. In addition, the device injects the plurality of test data packets in the first network element such that the first network element transmits the plurality of test data packets to the second network element using the plurality of equal cost segments. The device additionally determines a path for each of the plurality of test data packets by recording which of the plurality of equal cost segments the first network element used to transmit that test data packet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that discovers and tests paths in a network is described. In an exemplary embodiment, a device discovers a path by discovering a plurality of equal cost segments between the first and second network elements of the plurality of network elements. The device further generates a plurality of test data packets, wherein each of the test data packets has a different characteristic. In addition, the device injects the plurality of test data packets in the first network element such that the first network element transmits the plurality of test data packets to the second network element using the plurality of equal cost segments. The device additionally determines a path for each of the plurality of test data packets by recording which of the plurality of equal cost segments the first network element used to transmit that test data packet.

Abstract: A device optimizes the path by receiving path information for the path that includes a series of connections between network elements that enable data to be communicated between the device and another device. The device additionally identifies a path priority from the path information and a plurality of forwarding options for the path from the path information. Furthermore, the device selects one of the plurality of forwarding options using the path priority. In addition, the device configures one of the plurality of forwarding options for the path on one of the plurality of network elements, where the device communicates data to the other device using the path and the selected forwarding option.