Abstract: Systems and methods are provided that allow for the management of switching devices in an information handling system without having to access the switching device. An information handling system as provided herein includes at least one switching device and a controlling device in communication with the at least one switching device. The controlling device includes a network interface component configured to receive a request from the at least one switching device, and one or more processors. The one or more processors are configured to provide configuration settings and an operating system to the at least one switching device in response to the received request, record network traffic of the at least one switching device, provide the recorded traffic to an analytics engine, and debug the at least one switching device based on information received from the analytics engine.

Abstract: A system and method for multicast routing using peer groups includes a router. The router includes a control unit and a memory coupled to the control unit. The memory stores one or more first multicast routing entries. The control unit is configured to receive a multicast packet on an input interface, determine one or more properties of the multicast packet, determine one or more output interfaces based on the properties and the first multicast routing entries, and forward copies of the multicast packet on each of the output interfaces. The router is configured to be coupled to a peer router via an inter-chassis link (ICL). The first multicast routing entries include one or more second multicast routing entries associated with multicast routing trees associated with the router and one or more third multicast routing entries associated with multicast routing trees associated with the peer router.

Abstract: A system for managing networked devices comprising a plurality of racks of computing devices, each rack computing device further comprising a plurality of constraints and configured to operate one or more hosted systems, each rack comprising a bit vector stored in a data memory defining the minimum available set of constraints for each of the plurality of rack computing devices. A plurality of enterprises, each comprising one or more enterprise computing device configured to operate a virtual network system that is configured to interactively operate with the one or more hosted systems of one of the rack computing devices. A network function virtualization system configured to receive a service request and to determine that a new hosted system is required to respond to the service request, and to select a rack for instantiation of the new hosted system as a function of the plurality of bit vectors.

Abstract: An extended bridge structure that includes a controlling bridge and port extenders is disclosed. A port extender according to some embodiments of the present invention includes a processor that processes receives packets in a way that executes at least one procedure that substitutes for a function of the controlling bridge. A controlling bridge according to the present invention provides data to the port extender that enables it to execute the at least one procedure that substitutes for a function of the controlling bridge.

Abstract: A system for managing networked devices comprising a plurality of racks of computing devices, each rack computing device further comprising a plurality of constraints and configured to operate one or more hosted systems, each rack comprising a bit vector stored in a data memory defining the minimum available set of constraints for each of the plurality of rack computing devices. A plurality of enterprises, each comprising one or more enterprise computing device configured to operate a virtual network system that is configured to interactively operate with the one or more hosted systems of one of the rack computing devices. A network function virtualization system configured to receive a service request and to determine that a new hosted system is required to respond to the service request, and to select a rack for instantiation of the new hosted system as a function of the plurality of bit vectors.

Abstract: A system and method for multicast routing using peer groups includes a router. The router includes a control unit and a memory coupled to the control unit. The memory stores one or more first multicast routing entries. The control unit is configured to receive a multicast packet on an input interface, determine one or more properties of the multicast packet, determine one or more output interfaces based on the properties and the first multicast routing entries, and forward copies of the multicast packet on each of the output interfaces. The router is configured to be coupled to a peer router via an inter-chassis link (ICL). The first multicast routing entries include one or more second multicast routing entries associated with multicast routing trees associated with the router and one or more third multicast routing entries associated with multicast routing trees associated with the peer router.

Abstract: A system and method for multicast routing using peer groups includes a router. The router includes a control unit and a memory coupled to the control unit. The memory stores one or more first multicast routing entries. The control unit is configured to receive a multicast packet on an input interface, determine one or more properties of the multicast packet, determine one or more output interfaces based on the properties and the first multicast routing entries, and forward copies of the multicast packet on each of the output interfaces. The router is configured to be coupled to a peer router via an inter-chassis link (ICL). The first multicast routing entries include one or more second multicast routing entries associated with multicast routing trees associated with the router and one or more third multicast routing entries associated with multicast routing trees associated with the peer router.

Abstract: An information handling system is provided. The information handling system includes a first hypervisor running on a first host and a second hypervisor running on a second host. The first hypervisor managing a first virtual switch, and the second hypervisor managing a second virtual switch. The information handling system also includes a plurality of virtual machines (VMs), including a first VM, which is part of a first tenant, running on the first host, and a second VM, part of a second tenant, running on the second host. The first virtual switch has a mapping in memory that maps a customer-specific multicast IP address, used by the plurality of VMs to indicate a multicast group that includes VMs on the first and second tenants, to a global multicast IP address used by the first and second hosts.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product for forming a tiered Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) server topology is presented. A Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) having a plurality of Mobile Virtual Local Area Network (MVLAN) servers is broken into a plurality of zones, each zone including at least one MVLAN server. An Identifier (ID) is assigned to each zone. A MVLAN server in each zone is designated as a MVLAN gateway server, wherein MVLAN servers within a zone communicate with each other within the zone, wherein the MVLAN servers within a zone communicate directly with the MVLAN gateway sever within the zone, wherein MVLAN gateway servers communicate directly with each other, and wherein a MVLAN server within a first zone communicates with a MVLAN server in a second zone by way of the MVLAN gateway sever of the first zone and the MVLAN gateway server of the second zone.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention include an n-node link aggregation group (LAG) system comprising a set of N nodes collectively provide a logical fabric-level view that is consistent across the set of N nodes. Embodiments of the n-node system comprise a control plane mechanism to provide Layer 2 multipathing between access network devices and the core network. The n-node system provides a loop-free topology with active-active load-sharing of uplinks from access to the core.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention include extending routing capabilities to improve networking efficiencies. In embodiments, a spine-leaf network configuration may be provisioned as a single router to solve at least two issues: (1) local routing within a leaf; and (2) scalability of the hardware ARP table. In embodiments, one or more tables in the leaf node may be programmed so that data traffic coming from a first host in a first subnet or VLAN on the leaf and intended for a second host in a second subnet or VLAN on the leaf may be forwarded locally to the second host in the second subnet or VLAN without traversing to the spine layer.

Abstract: A system and method for management of virtual sub-networks includes a network controller including a control unit and one or more ports coupled to the control unit. The network controller is configured to receive a first admit request from a network switching device on a first virtual sub-network, form a first admit response based on information associated with the first admit request, transmit the first admit response to the network switching device on the first virtual sub-network, form one or more first flow control messages including configuration information for coupling the network controller and the network switching device using a second virtual sub-network, transmit the one or more first flow control messages, transmit a first migrate message to the network switching device, and exchange management traffic with the network switching device using the second virtual sub-network.

Abstract: A system and method for provisioning multicast groups based on broadcast domain participation includes a server. The server includes one or more multicast traffic producers collectively participating in a plurality of first broadcast domains and a multicast group including identifiers of other servers that participate in any of the first broadcast domains. Each of the multicast traffic producers participates in one or more of the plurality of first broadcast domains. The server is configured to direct multicast traffic associated with any of the first broadcast domains to each of the other servers identified in the multicast group.

Abstract: An information handling system is provided. The information handling system includes a first hypervisor running on a first host and a second hypervisor running on a second host. The first hypervisor managing a first virtual switch, and the second hypervisor managing a second virtual switch. The information handling system also includes a plurality of virtual machines (VMs), including a first VM, which is part of a first tenant, running on the first host, and a second VM, part of a second tenant, running on the second host. The first virtual switch has a mapping in memory that maps a customer-specific multicast IP address, used by the plurality of VMs to indicate a multicast group that includes VMs on the first and second tenants, to a global multicast IP address used by the first and second hosts.

Abstract: An extended bridge structure that includes a controlling bridge and port extenders is disclosed. A port extender according to some embodiments of the present invention includes a processor that processes receives packets in a way that executes at least one procedure that substitutes for a function of the controlling bridge. A controlling bridge according to the present invention provides data to the port extender that enables it to execute the at least one procedure that substitutes for a function of the controlling bridge.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention include an n-node link aggregation group (LAG) system comprising a set of N nodes collectively provide a logical fabric-level view that is consistent across the set of N nodes. Embodiments of the n-node system comprise a control plane mechanism to provide Layer 2 multipathing between access network devices and the core network. The n-node system provides a loop-free topology with active-active load-sharing of uplinks from access to the core.

Abstract: An information handling system is provided. The information handling system includes a first hypervisor running on a first host and a second hypervisor running on a second host. The first hypervisor managing a first virtual switch, and the second hypervisor managing a second virtual switch. The information handling system also includes a plurality of virtual machines (VMs), including a first VM, which is part of a first tenant, running on the first host, and a second VM, part of a second tenant, running on the second host. The first virtual switch has a mapping in memory that maps a customer-specific multicast IP address, used by the plurality of VMs to indicate a multicast group that includes VMs on the first and second tenants, to a global multicast IP address used by the first and second hosts.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention include an N-Node virtual link trunking (VLT) system comprising a set of N nodes collectively provide a logical fabric-level view that is consistent across the set of N nodes. Embodiments of the N-Node VLT system comprise a control plane mechanism to provide Layer 2 multipathing between access network devices (switches or servers) and the core network. The N-Node VLT system provides a loop-free topology with active-active load-sharing of uplinks from access to the core. Accordingly, the N-Node VLT system eliminates the disadvantage of Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) (active-standby links) by allowing link aggregation group (LAG) terminations on multiple separate distribution or core switches and also supporting a loop-free topology. Additional benefits of an N-Node VLT system include, but are not limited to, higher resiliency, improved link utilization, and improved manageability of the network.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention include an N-Node virtual link trunking (VLT) system comprising a set of N nodes collectively provide a logical fabric-level view that is consistent across the set of N nodes. Embodiments of the N-Node VLT system comprise a control plane mechanism to provide Layer 2 multipathing between access network devices (switches or servers) and the core network. The N-Node VLT system provides a loop-free topology with active-active load-sharing of uplinks from access to the core. Accordingly, the N-Node VLT system eliminates the disadvantage of Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) (active-standby links) by allowing link aggregation group (LAG) terminations on multiple separate distribution or core switches and also supporting a loop-free topology. Additional benefits of an N-Node VLT system include, but are not limited to, higher resiliency, improved link utilization, and improved manageability of the network.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention include an N-Node virtual link trunking (VLT) system comprising a set of N nodes collectively provide a logical fabric-level view that is consistent across the set of N nodes. Embodiments of the N-Node VLT system comprise a control plane mechanism to provide Layer 2 multipathing between access network devices (switches or servers) and the core network. The N-Node VLT system provides a loop-free topology with active-active load-sharing of uplinks from access to the core. Accordingly, the N-Node VLT system eliminates the disadvantage of Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) (active-standby links) by allowing link aggregation group (LAG) terminations on multiple separate distribution or core switches and also supporting a loop-free topology. Additional benefits of an N-Node VLT system include, but are not limited to, higher resiliency, improved link utilization, and improved manageability of the network.