Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch. The switch includes a fabric switch module and a learning module. The fabric switch module maintains a membership in a first fabric switch. A fabric switch includes a plurality of switches and operates as a single switch. The first fabric switch is in an extended fabric switch which further comprises a second fabric switch. The learning module identifies from a notification message from the second fabric switch a media access control (MAC) address learned at the second fabric switch. The learning module stores the MAC address in a local MAC table in association with an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the second fabric switch.

Abstract: Techniques for end-to-end network bandwidth optimization using software defined networking are provided. In one embodiment, a computer system can receive information regarding a flow to be admitted to a network, where the flow is associated with a source and a destination. The computer system can further calculate, for each path in a plurality of paths between the source and the destination, a projected utilization of the path in view of the flow. If the projected utilization of the shortest path in the plurality of paths is less than or equal to a target utilization threshold, the computer system can assign the flow to the shortest path. Otherwise, the computer system can select a path in the plurality of paths that comes closest to the target utilization threshold without exceeding the threshold and can assign the flow to that selected path.

Abstract: Techniques for optimizing traffic flows via dynamic routing protocol (DRP) modifications when server virtualization is used with dynamic routing are provided. In one embodiment, a network device can determine that it is part of a system of network devices acting as a virtual router. The network device can then transmit, to a client device, a DRP control packet that includes an interface IP address of the network device and a virtual IP address of the virtual router. In a further embodiment, the client device can receive the DRP control packet and store the interface IP address and the virtual IP address in a routing database. At the time of computing routing entries based on the routing database, the client device can replace, in entries that identify the interface IP address as the next hop, the interface IP address with the virtual IP address.

Abstract: Techniques for transforming a legacy network into a Software Defined Networking (SDN) enabled network are provided. In one embodiment, a route server can receive one or more routing protocol packets originating from a network device, where the one or more routing protocol packets are forwarded to the route server via a cross connect configured on a network router. The route server can further establish a routing protocol session between the route server and the network device based on the one or more routing protocol packets, and can add a routing entry to a local routing table. Upon adding the routing entry, the route server can automatically invoke an application programming interface (API) for transmitting the routing entry to a Software Defined Networking (SDN) controller.

Abstract: Techniques for end-to-end network bandwidth optimization using software defined networking are provided. In one embodiment, a computer system can receive information regarding a flow to be admitted to a network, where the flow is associated with a source and a destination. The computer system can further calculate, for each path in a plurality of paths between the source and the destination, a projected utilization of the path in view of the flow. If the projected utilization of the shortest path in the plurality of paths is less than or equal to a target utilization threshold, the computer system can assign the flow to the shortest path. Otherwise, the computer system can select a path in the plurality of paths that comes closest to the target utilization threshold without exceeding the threshold and can assign the flow to that selected path.

Abstract: Techniques for end-to-end network bandwidth optimization using software defined networking are provided. In one embodiment, a computer system can receive information regarding a flow to be admitted to a network, where the flow is associated with a source and a destination. The computer system can further calculate, for each path in a plurality of paths between the source and the destination, a projected utilization of the path in view of the flow. If the projected utilization of the shortest path in the plurality of paths is less than or equal to a target utilization threshold, the computer system can assign the flow to the shortest path. Otherwise, the computer system can select a path in the plurality of paths that comes closest to the target utilization threshold without exceeding the threshold and can assign the flow to that selected path.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch. The switch includes a fabric switch module and a learning module. The fabric switch module maintains a membership in a first fabric switch. A fabric switch includes a plurality of switches and operates as a single switch. The first fabric switch is in an extended fabric switch which further comprises a second fabric switch. The learning module identifies from a notification message from the second fabric switch a media access control (MAC) address learned at the second fabric switch. The learning module stores the MAC address in a local MAC table in association with an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the second fabric switch.

Abstract: Improved debugging capabilities for network packet path tracing. Embodiments trace both the control and data planes. During control plane operations each switch appends its identity to the payload, providing a full trace of the control plan path. SNMP Trap commands containing the forward path payload are provided back at each hop. The data plane is monitored by setting traps along the control plane path, with SNMP Trap commands at each hop being provided that indicate a given switch has been used.

Abstract: An apparatus, in one embodiment, includes an edge adaptor module, a storage device, and an encapsulation module. The edge adaptor module maintains a membership in a fabric switch. A fabric switch includes a plurality of switches and operates as a single switch. The storage device stores a first table comprising a first mapping between a first edge identifier and a switch identifier. The first edge identifier is associated with the edge adaptor module and the switch identifier is associated with a local switch. This local switch is a member of the fabric switch. The storage device also stores a second table comprising a second mapping between the first edge identifier and a media access control (MAC) address of a local device. During operation, the encapsulation module encapsulates a packet in a fabric encapsulation with the first edge identifier as the ingress switch identifier of the encapsulation header.

Abstract: Techniques for end-to-end network bandwidth optimization using software defined networking are provided. In one embodiment, a computer system can receive information regarding a flow to be admitted to a network, where the flow is associated with a source and a destination. The computer system can further calculate, for each path in a plurality of paths between the source and the destination, a projected utilization of the path in view of the flow. If the projected utilization of the shortest path in the plurality of paths is less than or equal to a target utilization threshold, the computer system can assign the flow to the shortest path. Otherwise, the computer system can select a path in the plurality of paths that comes closest to the target utilization threshold without exceeding the threshold and can assign the flow to that selected path.

Abstract: Techniques for optimizing traffic flows via dynamic routing protocol (DRP) modifications when server virtualization is used with dynamic routing are provided. In one embodiment, a network device can determine that it is part of a system of network devices acting as a virtual router. The network device can then transmit, to a client device, a DRP control packet that includes an interface IP address of the network device and a virtual IP address of the virtual router. In a further embodiment, the client device can receive the DRP control packet and store the interface IP address and the virtual IP address in a routing database. At the time of computing routing entries based on the routing database (via., e.g., a shortest path first (SPF) algorithm), the client device can replace, in entries that identify the interface IP address as the next hop, the interface IP address with the virtual IP address.

Abstract: Techniques for optimizing traffic flows via MAC synchronization when server virtualization is used with dynamic routing are provided. In one embodiment, a first network device can store an interface MAC address of a second network device in an L2 forwarding table, where the first network device and the second network device are peer nodes in an MC-LAG cluster. Further, the first network device can enable a flag for the interface MAC address in the L2 forwarding table. When the first network device receives a data packet that includes the interface MAC address of the second network device as a destination MAC address, the first network device can determine that the interface MAC address is included in the L2 forwarding table with the flag enabled. The first network device can then perform a lookup into its L3 routing table, identify a next hop destination for the data packet, and route the packet to the destination.

Abstract: Improved debugging capabilities for network packet path tracing. Embodiments trace both the control and data planes. During control plane operations each switch appends its identity to the payload, providing a full trace of the control plan path. SNMP Trap commands containing the forward path payload are provided back at each hop. The data plane is monitored by setting traps along the control plane path, with SNMP Trap commands at each hop being provided that indicate a given switch has been used.