Abstract: Systems and methods for an SDN switch that provides application-based conditional forwarding and session-aware load balancing are provided. According to one embodiment, a packet is received at an input port of a Software Defined Networking (SDN) switch. The packet is forwarded by the SDN switch to a first flow processing unit (FPU) of multiple FPUs of the SDN switch. The first FPU determines whether the packet is to be tracked. And, if so, the received packet is transmitted to a second FPU of the SDN switch; otherwise, the packet is transmitted to a third FPU of the SDN switch. When the packet is received at the second FPU, the packet is conditionally forwarded by the SDN switch to an application device. When the packet is received at the third FPU, the packet is conditionally forwarded to an output port or dropped.

Abstract: Systems and methods for an SDN switch that provides service group chaining for sequentially serving multiple network security devices are provided. According to one embodiment, a packet received by the switch is processed by a first FPU based on a first set of rules and forwarded conditionally to a first security device. The packet is security processed, including dropping it or forwarding it to an egress port or forwarding it to a second FPU. When forwarded to the second FPU, the packet is processed based on a second set of rules by forwarding it to a second security device or dropping it or forwarding it to the egress port. When forwarded to the second security device, the packet is security processed, including dropping it or forwarding it to the egress port or conditionally forwarding it to a third FPU to be sequentially forwarded to a third security device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for an SDN switch that facilitates forwarding/differential routing decision determination are provided. A packet is received at an input port of the SDN switch. The switch includes a first and second set of flow processing units (FPUs). The packet is forwarded to a first FPU of the first set. Based on a flow table associated with the first FPU, it is determined whether the packet is to be forwarded to a network device or an output port. The packet is received from the network device at a second FPU of the second set. Based on a flow table associated with the second FPU, it is determined whether to execute one or more instructions to forward the packet to the input or output port, or to drop or default forward the packet to the input or output port.

Abstract: Systems and methods for an SDN switch that provides service group chaining for sequentially serving multiple network security devices are provided. According to one embodiment, a packet received by the switch is processed by a first FPU based on a first set of rules and forwarded conditionally to a first security device. The packet is security processed, including dropping it or forwarding it to an egress port or forwarding it to a second FPU. When forwarded to the second FPU, the packet is processed based on a second set of rules by forwarding it to a second security device or dropping it or forwarding it to the egress port. When forwarded to the second security device, the packet is security processed, including dropping it or forwarding it to the egress port or conditionally forwarding it to a third FPU to be sequentially forwarded to a third security device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for an SDN switch that facilitates forwarding/differential routing decision determination are provided. A packet is received at an input port of the SDN switch. The switch includes a first and second set of flow processing units (FPUs). The packet is forwarded to a first FPU of the first set. Based on a flow table associated with the first FPU, it is determined whether the packet is to be forwarded to a network device or an output port. The packet is received from the network device at a second FPU of the second set. Based on a flow table associated with the second FPU, it is determined whether to execute one or more instructions to forward the packet to the input or output port, or to drop or default forward the packet to the input or output port.

Abstract: Systems and methods for an SDN switch that provides application-based conditional forwarding and session-aware load balancing are provided. According to one embodiment, a packet is received at an input port of a Software Defined Networking (SDN) switch. The packet is forwarded by the SDN switch to a first flow processing unit (FPU) of multiple FPUs of the SDN switch. The first FPU determines whether the packet is to be tracked. And, if so, the received packet is transmitted to a second FPU of the SDN switch; otherwise, the packet is transmitted to a third FPU of the SDN switch. When the packet is received at the second FPU, the packet is conditionally forwarded by the SDN switch to an application device. When the packet is received at the third FPU, the packet is conditionally forwarded to an output port or dropped.