Abstract: A system and method for steering traffic through a set of services is provided. A service path or service chain is assigned to a received packet based on a classification of the packet and correlation of the packet with a traffic flow. A new service chain identifier can be created if no such correlation exists. A next service type and a particular instance of the next service type can be determined in accordance with the service chain identifier. A next destination for the traffic can be set in accordance with the instance of the next service.

Abstract: A system and method for steering traffic through a set of services is provided. A service path or service chain is assigned to a received packet based on a classification of the packet and correlation of the packet with a traffic flow. A new service chain identifier can be created if no such correlation exists. A next service type and a particular instance of the next service type can be determined in accordance with the service chain identifier. A next destination for the traffic can be set in accordance with the instance of the next service.

Abstract: A method for redirecting a traffic flow in a communication network, in which a first or default service path has been configured for the traffic flow to go through is disclosed. The method comprises: receiving a notification message from a network node, the notification message including a traffic characteristic information of a packet of the traffic flow; creating a set of rules based on the received traffic characteristic information; and sending the set of rules to a plurality of switches in the communication network, the set of rules configuring a second or alternative service path to be used by subsequent packets of this traffic flow. Also, a network node for carrying out this method is provided.

Abstract: A system and method for steering traffic through a set of services is provided. A service path or service chain is assigned to a received packet based on a classification of the packet and correlation of the packet with a traffic flow. A new service chain identifier can be created if no such correlation exists. A next service type and a particular instance of the next service type can be determined in accordance with the service chain identifier. A next destination for the traffic can be set in accordance with the instance of the next service.

Abstract: A network device acting as a forwarding element within a software-defined network receives a representation of configurable flow table definitions and configurable logic for selecting between flow tables. The network device creates a flow table based on each of the configurable flow table definitions and installs the configurable logic for selecting between flow tables. The network device receives data to populate configurable key columns and action columns of the flow tables and populates the flow tables using that data. The network device then selects from forwarding decisions for packets according to the configurable logic for selecting between flow tables, the flow tables, and each packet's values in relevant header fields required by the configurable logic.

Abstract: A system and method for steering traffic through a set of services is provided. A service path or service chain is assigned to a received packet based on a classification of the packet and correlation of the packet with a traffic flow. A new service chain identifier can be created if no such correlation exists. A next service type and a particular instance of the next service type can be determined in accordance with the service chain identifier. A next destination for the traffic can be set in accordance with the instance of the next service.

Abstract: A method enables a switch in a split-architecture network to provide high speed packet processing and enhanced network functionalities that are not supported by the OpenFlow. The switch receives a packet from a network through an input port of the switch, and matches header fields in the packet against table entries in flow tables to identify an action to be taken. The flow tables are part of an OpenFlow pipeline. The identified action is to direct the packet to a designated processing unit in the switch. The OpenFlow pipeline forwards the packet to the designated processing unit via a communication channel in the switch. The designated processing unit processes the packet with the enhanced network functionalities, and injects the packet back to one of the flow tables before transmission of the packet to the network through an egress port of the switch.

Abstract: A method implemented in a Software Defined Networking (SDN) network for flow table lookup parallelization is disclosed. The SDN network contains at least a SDN controller and at least a forwarding element and the SDN network utilizes a plurality of flow tables to perform lookup for forwarding traffic. The method starts with determining dependency of flow tables within the forwarding element using a set of dependency determination rules. A dependency graph is then constructed based on determined dependency of flow tables. A dependency degree count for each flow table within the forwarding element is determined based on the dependency graph. Based on the dependency degree count determination for each flow table, a plurality of parallel lookup groups (PLGs) for the forwarding element is formed, where each parallel lookup group contains one or more flow tables having a same dependency degree count.

Abstract: A method implemented in a Software Defined Networking (SDN) network for flow table lookup parallelization is disclosed. The SDN network contains at least a SDN controller and at least a forwarding element and the SDN network utilizes a plurality of flow tables to perform lookup for forwarding traffic. The method starts with determining dependency of flow tables within the forwarding element using a set of dependency determination rules. A dependency graph is then constructed based on determined dependency of flow tables. A dependency degree count for each flow table within the forwarding element is determined based on the dependency graph. Based on the dependency degree count determination for each flow table, a plurality of parallel lookup groups (PLGs) for the forwarding element is formed, where each parallel lookup group contains one or more flow tables having a same dependency degree count.

Abstract: A network device acting as a forwarding element within a software-defined network receives a representation of configurable flow table definitions and configurable logic for selecting between flow tables. The network device creates a flow table based on each of the configurable flow table definitions and installs the configurable logic for selecting between flow tables. The network device receives data to populate configurable key columns and action columns of the flow tables and populates the flow tables using that data. The network device then selects from forwarding decisions for packets according to the configurable logic for selecting between flow tables, the flow tables, and each packet's values in relevant header fields required by the configurable logic.

Abstract: A network device acting as a forwarding element within a software-defined network receives a representation of configurable flow table definitions and configurable logic for selecting between flow tables. The network device creates a flow table based on each of the configurable flow table definitions and installs the configurable logic for selecting between flow tables. The network device receives data to populate configurable key columns and action columns of the flow tables and populates the flow tables using that data. The network device then selects from forwarding decisions for packets according to the configurable logic for selecting between flow tables, the flow tables, and each packet's values in relevant header fields required by the configurable logic.

Abstract: A network device acts as a controller within a software-defined network. The network device receives a processing definition, which includes a representation of configurable definitions of protocols, configurable flow table definitions, and configurable logic for selecting between flow tables defined by the configurable flow table definitions. The network device translates the processing definition to create a parser configuration package, which is distributed to a plurality of forwarding elements. This distribution causes each forwarding element to create a flow table based on each of the configurable flow table definitions. The flow tables include one or more configurable key columns and a set of one or more action columns to store forwarding decisions. The network device transmits data to populate the configurable key columns and action columns of the flow tables created within each of the plurality of forwarding elements.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide for methods and systems that enable frame generation by fields taken from various queues. Protocol control can also or alternatively be distributed so that one or more header fields can be generated separately from other portions of a frame, e.g., the payload. The one or more header fields can be entered into queues from which they are taken to generate frames.

Abstract: A system for flexible and extensible flow processing includes a first network device to act as a controller within a software-defined network. The first network device receives a processing definition, translates the processing definition to create a parser configuration package and transmit the parser configuration package to a plurality of forwarding elements, and transmit data to populate flow tables within the plurality of forwarding elements. The system also includes a second and third network device, each acting as a flow switching enabled forwarding element and able to receive a parser configuration package from the first network device. The second network device compiles the parser configuration package into machine code, which is executed on a processor to perform packet processing. The third network device includes a co-processor to execute the parser configuration package to perform packet processing.

Abstract: A method enables a switch in a split-architecture network to provide high speed packet processing and enhanced network functionalities that are not supported by the OpenFlow. The switch receives a packet from a network through an input port of the switch, and matches header fields in the packet against table entries in flow tables to identify an action to be taken. The flow tables are part of an OpenFlow pipeline. The identified action is to direct the packet to a designated processing unit in the switch. The OpenFlow pipeline forwards the packet to the designated processing unit via a communication channel in the switch. The designated processing unit processes the packet with the enhanced network functionalities, and injects the packet back to one of the flow tables before transmission of the packet to the network through an egress port of the switch.

Abstract: A network device acts as a controller within a software-defined network. The network device receives a processing definition, which includes a representation of configurable definitions of protocols, configurable flow table definitions, and configurable logic for selecting between flow tables defined by the configurable flow table definitions. The network device translates the processing definition to create a parser configuration package, which is distributed to a plurality of forwarding elements. This distribution causes each forwarding element to create a flow table based on each of the configurable flow table definitions. The flow tables include one or more configurable key columns and a set of one or more action columns to store forwarding decisions. The network device transmits data to populate the configurable key columns and action columns of the flow tables created within each of the plurality of forwarding elements.

Abstract: A system for flexible and extensible flow processing includes a first network device to act as a controller within a software-defined network. The first network device receives a processing definition, translates the processing definition to create a parser configuration package and transmit the parser configuration package to a plurality of forwarding elements, and transmit data to populate flow tables within the plurality of forwarding elements. The system also includes a second and third network device, each acting as a flow switching enabled forwarding element and able to receive a parser configuration package from the first network device. The second network device compiles the parser configuration package into machine code, which is executed on a processor to perform packet processing. The third network device includes a co-processor to execute the parser configuration package to perform packet processing.

Abstract: A network device acting as a forwarding element within a software-defined network receives a representation of configurable flow table definitions and configurable logic for selecting between flow tables. The network device creates a flow table based on each of the configurable flow table definitions and installs the configurable logic for selecting between flow tables. The network device receives data to populate configurable key columns and action columns of the flow tables and populates the flow tables using that data. The network device then selects from forwarding decisions for packets according to the configurable logic for selecting between flow tables, the flow tables, and each packet's values in relevant header fields required by the configurable logic.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and circuit for aligning a serial bit stream with a parallel output. The method comprises latching Q bits from the serial bit stream into a register, locating a position P of a first bit of a start of frame delimiter (SFD) in the register and discarding P-1 bits from the serial bit stream, before the position of the first bit of the SFD, thereby aligning the serial bit stream with the parallel output. The circuit comprises a latch, a fault tolerant analysis logic (FTAL) for locating a position P of a first bit of a start of frame delimiter (SFD) in the register and a shift register for discarding P-1 bits from the serial bit stream, before the position of the first bit of the SFD, thereby aligning the serial bit stream with the parallel output.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and circuit for aligning a serial bit stream with a parallel output. The method comprises latching Q bits from the serial bit stream into a register, locating a position P of a first bit of a start of frame delimiter (SFD) in the register and discarding P-1 bits from the serial bit stream, before the position of the first bit of the SFD, thereby aligning the serial bit stream with the parallel output. The circuit comprises a latch, a fault tolerant analysis logic (FTAL) for locating a position P of a first bit of a start of frame delimiter (SFD) in the register and a shift register for discarding P-1 bits from the serial bit stream, before the position of the first bit of the SFD, thereby aligning the serial bit stream with the parallel output.