Abstract: A method and system is implemented in a network node that functions as a controller for a domain in a split architecture network. The domain comprises a plurality of flow switches, where the plurality of flow switches implement a data plane for the split architecture network and the controller implements a control plane for the split architecture network that is remote from the data plane. The method and system configure the plurality of flow switches to efficiently handle each type of broadcast packet in the domain of the split architecture network without flooding the domain with the broadcast packets to thereby reduce a number of broadcast packets forwarded within the domain.

Abstract: Disclosed are system, methods, and non-transitory computer readable media for accurately calculating a default gateway of an endpoint without probing the endpoint for the configured values to determine the path between network elements. Tracing the path of a flow in a network and displaying that on a user interface is extremely useful for network troubleshooting purposes. In order to find the gateway the flow would take out of the L2 domain, the endpoint's L2 default gateway is required. Usually the L2 gateway for network endpoints is configured on the endpoints themselves and this information cannot be accessed by network controllers (e.g., APIC-EM) directly. In such cases APIC-EM needs to determine the L2 gateway based on the information available to it from the network elements, instead of the endpoints themselves.

Abstract: Disclosed are system, methods, and non-transitory computer readable media for accurately calculating a default gateway of an endpoint without probing the endpoint for the configured values to determine the path between network elements. Tracing the path of a flow in a network and displaying that on a user interface is extremely useful for network troubleshooting purposes. In order to find the gateway the flow would take cut of the L2 domain, the endpoint's L2 default gateway is required. Usually the L2 gateway for network endpoints is configured on the endpoints themselves and this information cannot be accessed by network controllers (e.g., APIC-EM) directly. In such cases APIC-EM needs to determine the L2 gateway based on the information available to it from the network elements, instead of the endpoints themselves.

Abstract: A method and system is implemented in a network node that functions as a controller for a domain in a split architecture network. The domain comprises a plurality of flow switches, where the plurality of flow switches implement a data plane for the split architecture network and the controller implements a control plane for the split architecture network that is remote from the data plane. The method and system configure the plurality of flow switches to efficiently handle each type of broadcast packet in the domain of the split architecture network without flooding the domain with the broadcast packets to thereby reduce a number of broadcast packets forwarded within the domain.

Abstract: A method and system is implemented in a network node that functions as a controller for a domain in a split architecture network. The domain comprises a plurality of flow switches, where the plurality of flow switches implement a data plane for the split architecture network and the controller implements a control plane for the split architecture network that is remote from the data plane. The method and system configure the plurality of flow switches to efficiently handle each type of broadcast packet in the domain of the split architecture network without flooding the domain with the broadcast packets to thereby reduce a number of broadcast packets forwarded within the domain.

Abstract: A method and system is implemented in a network node that functions as a controller for a domain in a split architecture network. The domain comprises a plurality of flow switches, where the plurality of flow switches implement a data plane for the split architecture network and the controller implements a control plane for the split architecture network that is remote from the data plane. The method and system configure the plurality of flow switches to efficiently handle each type of broadcast packet in the domain of the split architecture network without flooding the domain with the broadcast packets to thereby reduce a number of broadcast packets forwarded within the domain.

Abstract: A method is implemented in a network element that functions as one of a plurality of controllers for one of a plurality of areas of a split architecture network. The controller provides a control plane for the area of the split architecture network where the controller is remote from a plurality of switches providing a data plane for the area of split architecture network. The controller facilitates optimized routing across the plurality of areas of the split architecture network by providing limited intra-area link cost data to other controllers of other areas of the split architecture network and to traditional routers of a network including the split architecture network. The limited intra-area link cost data provides costs of each possible shortest path traversal of the area of the controller without providing all internal link cost data.

Abstract: A method and system is implemented in a network node that functions as a controller for a domain in a split architecture network. The domain comprises a plurality of flow switches, where the plurality of flow switches implement a data plane for the split architecture network and the controller implements a control plane for the split architecture network that is remote from the data plane. The method and system configure the plurality of flow switches to efficiently handle each type of broadcast packet in the domain of the split architecture network without flooding the domain with the broadcast packets to thereby reduce a number of broadcast packets forwarded within the domain.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for reducing forwarding table sizes in flow switches in a flow-based, split-architecture network is described. In an embodiment, a set of flow switches along a flow path is identified to form a switch pool. The forwarding table of only one of the flow switches in the switch pool is configured to have a flow entry that is associated with a particular flow. The flow entry includes a set of match fields for identifying packets belonging to that particular flow, and a set of actions to be performed on the packets belonging to that particular flow.

Abstract: A method is implemented in a network element that functions as one of a plurality of controllers for one of a plurality of areas of a split architecture network. The controller provides a control plane for the area of the split architecture network where the controller is remote from a plurality of switches providing a data plane for the area of split architecture network. The controller facilitates optimized routing across the plurality of areas of the split architecture network by providing limited intra-area link cost data to other controllers of other areas of the split architecture network and to traditional routers of a network including the split architecture network. The limited intra-area link cost data provides costs of each possible shortest path traversal of the area of the controller without providing all internal link cost data.

Abstract: A method is implemented in a network element that functions as one of a plurality of controllers for one of a plurality of areas of a split architecture network. The controller provides a control plane for the area of the split architecture network where the controller is remote from a plurality of switches providing a data plane for the area of split architecture network. The controller facilitates optimized routing across the plurality of areas of the split architecture network by providing limited intra-area link cost data to other controllers of other areas of the split architecture network and to traditional routers of a network including the split architecture network. The limited intra-area link cost data provides costs of each possible shortest path traversal of the area of the controller without providing all internal link cost data.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for reducing forwarding table sizes in flow switches in a flow-based, split-architecture network is described. In an embodiment, a set of flow switches along a flow path is identified to form a switch pool. The forwarding table of only one of the flow switches in the switch pool is configured to have a flow entry that is associated with a particular flow. The flow entry includes a set of match fields for identifying packets belonging to that particular flow, and a set of actions to be performed on the packets belonging to that particular flow.

Abstract: A method is implemented in a network element that functions as one of a plurality of controllers for one of a plurality of areas of a split architecture network. The controller provides a control plane for the area of the split architecture network where the controller is remote from a plurality of switches providing a data plane for the area of split architecture network. The controller facilitates optimized routing across the plurality of areas of the split architecture network by providing limited intra-area link cost data to other controllers of other areas of the split architecture network and to traditional routers of a network including the split architecture network. The limited intra-area link cost data provides costs of each possible shortest path traversal of the area of the controller without providing all internal link cost data.

Abstract: A method and system is implemented in a network node that functions as a controller for a domain in a split architecture network. The domain comprises a plurality of flow switches, where the plurality of flow switches implement a data plane for the split architecture network and the controller implements a control plane for the split architecture network that is remote from the data plane. The method and system configure the plurality of flow switches to efficiently handle each type of broadcast packet in the domain of the split architecture network without flooding the domain with the broadcast packets to thereby reduce a number of broadcast packets forwarded within the domain.