Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for a network controller that manages a flow-based managed forwarding element (MFE). The method receives multiple service rules for implementation by the MFE. Each service rule matches over a set of network addresses. At least one network address is in the set of network addresses for at least two service rules. The method groups the network addresses into non-overlapping groups of network addresses, each of which addresses that are all matched by only a same set of service rules. The method generates flow entries that match over the groups of network addresses for the MFE to use to implement the service rules.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for a network controller that manages a flow-based managed forwarding element (MFE). The method receives multiple sets of service rules for implementation by the MFE. The sets of service rules have a priority order and the rules in each set of service rules have separate priority orders. The method organizes the service rules in all of the sets of service rules into a single ordered list of service rules. The method assigns priority values within a space-constrained set of priority values to the service rules in the list in a manner designed to minimize re-assignment when changes to the sets of service rules are received. The method uses the assigned priority values to generate flow entries for the MFE to use to implement the service rules.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a novel method for installing flows of a desired network state in an actualized network state of a managed forwarding element. In some embodiments, the method maintains a flow output table based on flow events received from a computation engine for computing desired state, and from a set of managed forwarding elements on which the computed desired state is installed. The method of some embodiments then installs flows on the set of managed forwarding elements based on the flow output table.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a novel network control system that provides publications for managing different slices (e.g., logical and/or physical entities) of a network. The publications are published from publisher controllers in the network control system to subscriber controllers. The network control system uses publications with generation numbers and buffered subscribers to implement the fixed points in order to help maintain a consistent network state. The information published with a publication is useful for resolving conflicts in the network control system when multiple publisher controllers provide conflicting inputs to a subscriber controller.

Abstract: A control system including several controllers for managing several switching elements. A first controller registers a second controller for receiving a notification when a data tuple changes in a network information base (NIB) storage of the first controller that stores data for managing a set of switching elements. The first controller changes the data tuple in the NIB. The first controller sends the notification to the second controller of the change to the data tuple in the NIB. The first and second controllers operate on two different computing devices. Each controller receives logical control plane data for specifying logical datapath sets and converts the logical control plane data to physical control plane data for enabling the switching elements to implement the logical datapath sets.

Abstract: A control system including several controllers for managing several switching elements. A first controller registers a second controller for receiving a notification when a data tuple changes in a network information base (NIB) storage of the first controller that stores data for managing a set of switching elements. The first controller changes the data tuple in the NIB. The first controller sends the notification to the second controller of the change to the data tuple in the NIB. The first and second controllers operate on two different computing devices. Each controller receives logical control plane data for specifying logical datapath sets and converts the logical control plane data to physical control plane data for enabling the switching elements to implement the logical datapath sets.

Abstract: A network control system for generating physical control plane data for managing first and second managed forwarding elements that implement forwarding operations associated with a first logical datapath set is described. The system includes (1) a first controller for converting logical control plane data for the first logical datapath set to universal physical control plane (UPCP) data, (2) a second controller for converting UPCP data to customized physical control plane (CPCP) data for the first managed forwarding element but not the second managed forwarding element, and (3) a third controller for receiving UPCP data generated by the first controller instance, identifying the second controller as the controller instance responsible for generating the CPCP data for the first managed forward element, and supplying the received UPCP data to the second controller. Each controller includes a network information base (NIB) storage for exchanging data with another controller instance.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing a network are described. A view of current state of the network is maintained where the current state of the network characterizes network topology and network constituents, including network entities and network elements residing in or on the network. Events are announced that correspond to changes in the state of the network and one or more network elements can be configured accordingly. Methods for managing network traffic are described that ensure forwarding and other actions taken by network elements implement globally declared network policy and refer to high-level names, independently of network topology and the location of network constituents. Methods for discovering network constituents are described, whereby are automatically configured. Routing may be performed using ACL and packets can be intercepted to permit host to continue in sleep mode. The methods are applicable to virtual environments.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a novel network control system that provides publications for managing different slices (e.g., logical and/or physical entities) of a network. The publications are published from publisher controllers in the network control system to subscriber controllers. The network control system uses publications with generation numbers and buffered subscribers to implement the fixed points in order to help maintain a consistent network state. Buffered subscribers buffer the inputs received from a publisher in case the publisher becomes unavailable. Rather than deleting all of the output state that is based on the published inputs, the buffered subscriber allows the subscriber to maintain the network state until an explicit change to the state is received at the subscriber from a publisher (e.g., a restarted publisher, a backup publisher, etc.).

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a novel network control system that provides publications for managing different slices (e.g., logical and/or physical entities) of a network. The publications are published from publisher controllers in the network control system to subscriber controllers. The network control system uses publications with generation numbers and buffered subscribers to implement the fixed points in order to help maintain a consistent network state. The information published with a publication is useful for resolving conflicts in the network control system when multiple publisher controllers provide conflicting inputs to a subscriber controller.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a novel network control system that uses secondary input queues to receive and store inputs from multiple input sources prior to moving the inputs to a primary input queue for processing. The secondary input queues provide a separate storage for each input source so that the inputs from the different sources do not get mixed with each other to ensure that fixed points and barriers sent to the controller maintain their integrity.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a network control system for generating physical control plane data for managing first and second managed forwarding elements that implement forwarding operations associated with a first logical datapath set. The system includes a first controller instance for converting logical control plane data for the first logical datapath set to universal physical control plane (UPCP) data. The system includes a second controller instance for converting UPCP data to customized physical control plane (CPCP) data for the first managed forwarding element but not the second managed forwarding element. Each controller instance includes a network information base (NIB) storage for storing data and exchanging data with the other controller instance.

Abstract: A network control system for managing several switching elements. The network control system includes first and second controllers for generating data for managing first and second sets of switching elements. The first controller is further for serving as a master controller of the first set of switching elements. The second controller is further for serving as a master controller of the second set of switching elements. The master controller for a particular set of switching elements is the only controller that is allowed to propagate data to the particular set of switching elements data for managing the particular set of switching elements.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing a network are described. A view of current state of the network is maintained where the current state of the network characterizes network topology and network constituents, including network entities and network elements residing in or on the network. Events are announced that correspond to changes in the state of the network and one or more network elements can be configured accordingly. Methods for managing network traffic are described that ensure forwarding and other actions taken by network elements implement globally declared network policy and refer to high-level names, independently of network topology and the location of network constituents. Methods for discovering network constituents are described, whereby are automatically configured. Routing may be performed using ACL and packets can be intercepted to permit host to continue in sleep mode. The methods are applicable to virtual environments.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a program for managing several switching elements. The program receives, at a network information base (NIB) data structure that stores data for managing the several switching elements, a request to notify a first application that uses the NIB when a set of data stored in the NIB is changed. The program changes, in response to an instruction from a second application, the set of data in the NIB. The program sends a notification to the first application of the change to the set of data in the NIB.

Abstract: A method for upgrading a set of controller nodes in a controller cluster that manages a plurality of forwarding elements in a way that minimizes dataplane outages. The method of some embodiments upgrades the control applications of a subset of the controller nodes before upgrading a decisive controller node. Once the decisive controller node is upgraded, the method switches the controller cluster to use a new version of the control applications.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a system for managing several switching elements. The system includes a network information base (NIB) data structure for serving as a primary storage structure for storing data for managing the several switching elements. The system includes a secondary storage structure for storing a copy of a set of data stored in the primary storage structure for managing the several the switching elements.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a program that monitors several network controllers in a network. Each network controller manages a logical data path set that is implemented across several managed switching elements. The program detects that a first network controller in the several network controllers has failed. The program selects a second network controller in the several network controllers to manage the logical data path set managed by the first network controller.

Abstract: A network control system that includes several controllers for managing several switching elements and a distributed hash table (DHT) formed across the controllers for storing data regarding the switching elements that is accessible by the controllers. Each hash table serves as a DHT instance. In some embodiments, the DHT instances of all controller instances collectively store one set of records that is indexed based on hashed indices for quick access. These records are distributed across the different controller instances to minimize the size of the records within each instance and to allow for the size of the DHT to be increased by adding other DHT instances. According to this scheme, each DHT record is not stored in each controller instance. In fact, in some embodiments, each DHT record is stored in at most one controller instance.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a program for managing several switching elements. The program receives, at a network information base (NIB) data structure that stores data for managing the several switching elements, a request to modify data stored in at least one particular switching element. The program modifies at least a first set of data tuples stored in the NIB for managing the particular switching element. The program sends a request to the particular switching element to modify at least a second set of data tuples for managing the particular switching element's operation.