Abstract: A leaf switch of a switch fabric includes multiple ports to connect with respective ones of multiple servers. Virtual local area networks (VLANs) are configured on the leaf switch. Dynamic creation of virtual ports is enabled on the leaf switch for at least one of the VLANs on an as needed basis. The leaf switch receives from a particular server connected to a corresponding one of the ports a notification message that a virtual machine is hosted on the particular server. Responsive to the notification message, the leaf switch dynamically creates a virtual port that associates the corresponding one of the ports with the at least one of the VLANs.

Abstract: Presented herein are techniques to handle data packets received at a top-of-rack (ToR) switch in an underlay network hosting one or more tenant networks. The underlay network may comprise a plurality of ToR switches each connected to each of a plurality of spine switches. The data packet may be received from a virtual machine in a tenant network, and have a header with a data packet identifier. A mobility domain identifier may be determined that corresponds to the network portion within which the virtual machine can be migrated. The mobility domain may be configured on the ToR switch on a per-port basis based on the virtual machine connected to the ToR switch port. A unique identifier may be formed based on the data packet identifier and mobility domain identifier. Using this unique identifier, provisioning information may be obtained for the tenant network on the ToR switch.

Abstract: A leaf switch of a switch fabric includes multiple ports to connect with respective ones of multiple servers. Virtual local area networks (VLANs) are configured on the leaf switch. Dynamic creation of virtual ports is enabled on the leaf switch for at least one of the VLANs on an as needed basis. The leaf switch receives from a particular server connected to a corresponding one of the ports a notification message that a virtual machine is hosted on the particular server. Responsive to the notification message, the leaf switch dynamically creates a virtual port that associates the corresponding one of the ports with the at least one of the VLANs.

Abstract: Presented herein are techniques to handle data packets received at a top-of-rack (ToR) switch in an underlay network hosting one or more tenant networks. The underlay network may comprise a plurality of ToR switches each connected to each of a plurality of spine switches. The data packet may be received from a virtual machine in a tenant network, and have a header with a data packet identifier. A mobility domain identifier may be determined that corresponds to the network portion within which the virtual machine can be migrated. The mobility domain may be configured on the ToR switch on a per-port basis based on the virtual machine connected to the ToR switch port. A unique identifier may be formed based on the data packet identifier and mobility domain identifier. Using this unique identifier, provisioning information may be obtained for the tenant network on the ToR switch.

Abstract: A method and network device (e.g., a switch) is described for assigning virtual Ethernet bindings. The method may comprise accessing the network device to obtain information related to hardware (e.g., switching hardware) of the network device. Thereafter, an uplink binding from a plurality of physical uplinks is selected based on the information. A virtual network interface of a virtual machine is then mapped to the selected uplink binding.

Abstract: A method and network device (e.g., a switch) is described for assigning virtual Ethernet bindings. The method may comprise accessing the network device to obtain information related to hardware (e.g., switching hardware) of the network device. Thereafter, an uplink binding from a plurality of physical uplinks is selected based on the information. A virtual network interface of a virtual machine is then mapped to the selected uplink binding.

Abstract: A system and method for global power management in a power over Ethernet (PoE) chassis. Power supply status signals indicative of an operating condition of a plurality of power supplies are provided to a plurality of power sourcing equipment (PSE) controller chips in a plurality of blades of a chassis system. Pre-configured combination logic within each of the PSE controller chips converts an indicated operational state of the plurality of power supplies into a powering decision for each of the ports served by the PSE controller chip. Global power management is also effected through the use of scaling factors for the various blades to ensure that the lowest priority powered port (LPPP) in a first blade does not have a lower priority than the highest priority non-powered port (HPNPP) in a second blade.

Abstract: A system and method for global power management in a power over Ethernet (PoE) chassis. Power supply status signals indicative of an operating condition of a plurality of power supplies are provided to a plurality of power sourcing equipment (PSE) controller chips in a plurality of blades of a chassis system. Pre-configured combination logic within each of the PSE controller chips converts an indicated operational state of the plurality of power supplies into a powering decision for each of the ports served by the PSE controller chip. Global power management is also effected through the use of scaling factors for the various blades to ensure that the lowest priority powered port (LPPP) in a first blade does not have a lower priority than the highest priority non-powered port (HPNPP) in a second blade.

Abstract: Early multilink traffic throttling for a data communication node throttles packets designated for forwarding on a multilink interface of a data communication node before distributing the packets to output queues associated with physical links of the multilink interface so as to prevent packet loss and reassembly problems caused by non-uniform operational characteristics of the physical links, such as disparate line rates. More particularly, early multilink traffic throttling verifies that all output queues associated with physical links of a multilink interface are ready to receive a packet before distributing the packet.