Abstract: In one set of embodiments, at the time the control plane of a peer in a multi-chassis system is shut down as part of a hitless reboot, the peer can identify one or more rules programmed in its data plane that (1) are configured on an ingress interface of a multi-chassis link aggregation group (MLAG) to which the peer is connected, and (2) specify a central processing unit (CPU) of the peer as a destination for matched network traffic. The peer can then change each identified rule to specify an inter-chassis link between the peer and another peer in the multi-chassis system, rather than the CPU of the peer, as the destination for matched network traffic.

Abstract: Techniques for implementing Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) peering status-aware hitless reboot on a network device are provided. In one set of embodiments, at the time of shutting down for a hitless reboot, the network device can collect status information regarding its BGP peerings and can write this information to a file on non-volatile storage. Then, upon booting up after the hitless reboot, the network device can retrieve the file from the non-volatile storage and use the status information included therein to restore the BGP peerings as they existed prior to the hitless reboot.

Abstract: Techniques for implementing data plane isolation for VM mobility operations are provided. In one set of embodiments, these techniques include creating a virtual network path between a source host system and a destination host system participating in a VM mobility operation, which allows the host systems to exchange data for carrying out the operation without exposing their physical IP addresses to each other and without requiring the use of intermediate proxies. In certain embodiments, the virtual network path can be dynamically established upon initiation of the VM mobility operation and dynamically rolled back upon operation completion, thereby reducing the overhead of virtual path management.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a method for performing congestion control for a particular packet flow associated with a first machine operating in a network. The method is performed at a first machine executing on a first host computer. The method receives, from multiple machines operating in the network and executing on other host computers, remote state data associated with a first multiplicity of packet flows traversing the multiple machines in the network. The method collects local state data associated with a second multiplicity of packet flows associated with the first machine. Based on the received remote and local state data, the method adjusts an amount of bandwidth allocated to the particular packet flow associated with the first machine.

Abstract: Techniques for implementing data plane isolation for VM mobility operations are provided. In one set of embodiments, these techniques include creating a virtual network path between a source host system and a destination host system participating in a VM mobility operation, which allows the host systems to exchange data for carrying out the operation without exposing their physical IP addresses to each other and without requiring the use of intermediate proxies. In certain embodiments, the virtual network path can be dynamically established upon initiation of the VM mobility operation and dynamically rolled back upon operation completion, thereby reducing the overhead of virtual path management.

Abstract: In one set of embodiments, during an initial pre-copying phase, copies of the virtual disks of a VM or VM template can be distributed across one or more datastores, prior to the start of any cloning. This effectively seeds each datastore with a disk pool comprising a certain number of copies of the VM/VM template's virtual disks. Then, at the time of receiving a user request to create k clones from the VM/VM template, up to k copies of the VM/VM template's virtual disks that already reside in the disk pools of one or more target datastores can be moved from those disk pools to the clones' home folders on the target datastores, thereby reducing or eliminating the need to create brand new copies of the virtual disks on demand.

Abstract: Techniques for implementing application-assisted VM provisioning operations, and in particular application-assisted live migration, are provided. In one set of embodiments, a hypervisor of a source host system can notify a guest application that the VM within which the guest application runs will be imminently live migrated from the source host system to a destination host system, prior to actually carrying out the live migration. In response, the guest application can execute one or more remedial actions that mitigate or avoid issues which may arise with respect to its runtime operation when the VM is stunned and switched over to the destination host system.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a method for performing congestion control for a particular packet flow associated with a source first host computer operating in a network. The method is performed at the first source host computer. The method determines a bandwidth threshold specified for the particular packet flow. Based on the bandwidth threshold, the method allocates an amount of bandwidth to the particular packet flow. The method periodically receives sets of contextual data associated with the particular packet flow. For the received sets of contextual data, the method iteratively (1) computes a current bandwidth consumption by the particular packet flow and (2) based on the sets of contextual data and the current bandwidth consumption, adjusts the amount of bandwidth allocated to the particular packet flow.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a method for performing congestion control for a particular packet flow associated with a first machine operating in a network. The method is performed at a first machine executing on a first host computer. The method receives, from multiple machines operating in the network and executing on other host computers, remote state data associated with a first multiplicity of packet flows traversing the multiple machines in the network. The method collects local state data associated with a second multiplicity of packet flows associated with the first machine. Based on the received remote and local state data, the method adjusts an amount of bandwidth allocated to the particular packet flow associated with the first machine.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a method for performing congestion control for multiple packet flows traversing a network that includes multiple machines executing on one or more host computers. The method is performed at a distributed bandwidth utilization manager (DBUM) that manages bandwidth utilization in the network. The method receives state data associated with the multiple packet flows from the multiple machines. The method determines (1) that state data associated with a subset of packet flows in the multiple packet flows indicate the subset of packet flows have run to completion and (2) that a particular packet flow in the multiple packet flows should receive more bandwidth. Based on said determining, the method directs a source machine of the particular packet flow to increase an amount bandwidth allocated to the particular packet flow.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a method for performing congestion control for a particular packet flow associated with a source first host computer operating in a network. The method is performed at the first source host computer. The method determines a bandwidth threshold specified for the particular packet flow. Based on the bandwidth threshold, the method allocates an amount of bandwidth to the particular packet flow. The method periodically receives sets of contextual data associated with the particular packet flow. For the received sets of contextual data, the method iteratively (1) computes a current bandwidth consumption by the particular packet flow and (2) based on the sets of contextual data and the current bandwidth consumption, adjusts the amount of bandwidth allocated to the particular packet flow.

Abstract: Techniques for implementing data plane isolation for VM mobility operations are provided. In one set of embodiments, these techniques include creating a virtual network path between a source host system and a destination host system participating in a VM mobility operation, which allows the host systems to exchange data for carrying out the operation without exposing their physical IP addresses to each other and without requiring the use of intermediate proxies. In certain embodiments, the virtual network path can be dynamically established upon initiation of the VM mobility operation and dynamically rolled back upon operation completion, thereby reducing the overhead of virtual path management.

Abstract: Techniques for implementing application-assisted VM provisioning operations, and in particular application-assisted live migration, are provided. In one set of embodiments, a hypervisor of a source host system can notify a guest application that the VM within which the guest application runs will be imminently live migrated from the source host system to a destination host system, prior to actually carrying out the live migration. In response, the guest application can execute one or more remedial actions that mitigate or avoid issues which may arise with respect to its runtime operation when the VM is stunned and switched over to the destination host system.

Abstract: In one set of embodiments, during an initial pre-copying phase, copies of the virtual disks of a VM or VM template can be distributed across one or more datastores, prior to the start of any cloning. This effectively seeds each datastore with a disk pool comprising a certain number of copies of the VM/VM template's virtual disks. Then, at the time of receiving a user request to create k clones from the VM/VM template, up to k copies of the VM/VM template's virtual disks that already reside in the disk pools of one or more target datastores can be moved from those disk pools to the clones' home folders on the target datastores, thereby reducing or eliminating the need to create brand new copies of the virtual disks on demand.

Abstract: A method of migrating a network file copy (NFC) operation from a first host computing device to a second host computing device includes the steps of: transmitting a first request to the first host computing device to execute the NFC operation, wherein the NFC operation comprises transferring data from a shared datastore to another datastore; after transmitting the first request, selecting the second host computing device to complete the NFC operation in place of the first host computing device, and transmitting a second request to the first host computing device to stop executing the NFC operation; after transmitting the second request, detecting a message indicating that the first host computing device completed the copying of a first portion of the data; and in response to the detection of the message, transmitting a third request to the second host computing device to perform the remainder of the NFC operation.

Abstract: A method of migrating a network file copy (NFC) operation from a first host computing device to a second host computing device includes the steps of: transmitting a first request to the first host computing device to execute the NFC operation, wherein the NFC operation comprises transferring data from a shared datastore to another datastore; after transmitting the first request, selecting the second host computing device to complete the NFC operation in place of the first host computing device, and transmitting a second request to the first host computing device to stop executing the NFC operation; after transmitting the second request, detecting a message indicating that the first host computing device completed the copying of a first portion of the data; and in response to the detection of the message, transmitting a third request to the second host computing device to perform the remainder of the NFC operation.