Abstract: A method is provided in one example and includes assigning a virtual switch identifier to a group of a plurality of switches in which each of the plurality of switches is configured with a redundancy protocol. The method further includes configuring a redundancy protocol priority value for each the plurality of switches, and generating at least one link-state routing protocol message including priority information indicative of the redundancy protocol priority value associated with one or more of the plurality of switches. The method further includes distributing the at least one link-state routing protocol message to one or more of the plurality of switches.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example and includes assigning a virtual switch identifier to a group of a plurality of switches in which each of the plurality of switches is configured with a redundancy protocol. The method further includes configuring a redundancy protocol priority value for each the plurality of switches, and generating at least one link-state routing protocol message including priority information indicative of the redundancy protocol priority value associated with one or more of the plurality of switches. The method further includes distributing the at least one link-state routing protocol message to one or more of the plurality of switches.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example and includes assigning a virtual switch identifier to a group of a plurality of switches in which each of the plurality of switches is configured with a redundancy protocol. The method further includes configuring a redundancy protocol priority value for each the plurality of switches, and generating at least one link-state routing protocol message including priority information indicative of the redundancy protocol priority value associated with one or more of the plurality of switches. The method further includes distributing the at least one link-state routing protocol message to one or more of the plurality of switches.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the processing by a packet switching device of a received network-to-link-layer address resolution request message (e.g., Address Resolution Protocol [ARP] Request message, Neighbor Discovery Protocol [NDP] Neighbor Solicitation message) is dependent upon whether or not its target IP address corresponds to a network gateway packet switching device. When the target IP address of a received ARP Request/NDP Neighbor Solicitation message corresponds to a network gateway, then the packet switching device responds effectively on behalf of the network gateway, rather than forwarding the message to the network gateway. When the target IP address of a received ARP Request/NDP Neighbor Solicitation message does not correspond to a network gateway and the Media Access Control (MAC) address corresponding to the target IP address is known, then the packet switching device transforms then sends the broadcast or multicast frame into a unicast frame.

Abstract: In an implementation, a packet is received from a network device. A group identifier is retrieved from the received packet. A plurality of layer-2 switch identifiers that are associated with the retrieved group identifier is determined. A switch identifier is selected from the plurality of layer-2 switch identifiers. The received packet is forwarded to a layer-2 switch identified by the selected switch identifier.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example and includes assigning a virtual switch identifier to a group of a plurality of switches in which each of the plurality of switches is configured with a redundancy protocol. The method further includes configuring a redundancy protocol priority value for each the plurality of switches, and generating at least one link-state routing protocol message including priority information indicative of the redundancy protocol priority value associated with one or more of the plurality of switches. The method further includes distributing the at least one link-state routing protocol message to one or more of the plurality of switches.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for providing n-way gateway load-balancing in a fabric path switching Systems (FSS), such as a layer 2 multipath (L2MP) network in a large data center. An access switch in a L2MP network may learn an emulated switch IDs through FHRP “hello” messages sent by an “active” gateway router for each FHRP group. Further, the access switch may learn which links an emulated switch is reachable over by evaluating link state messages (e.g., IS-IS messages) sent by the gateway routers used to construct the emulated switch. Doing so allows the access switch to learn both the ID of an emulated switch and a set of links over which the emulated switch may be reached, thereby allowing the access switch to load balance traffic to the emulated switch.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the processing by a packet switching device of a received network-to-link-layer address resolution request message (e.g., Address Resolution Protocol [ARP] Request message, Neighbor Discovery Protocol [NDP] Neighbor Solicitation message) is dependent upon whether or not its target IP address corresponds to a network gateway packet switching device. When the target IP address of a received ARP Request/NDP Neighbor Solicitation message corresponds to a network gateway, then the packet switching device responds effectively on behalf of the network gateway, rather than forwarding the message to the network gateway. When the target IP address of a received ARP Request/NDP Neighbor Solicitation message does not correspond to a network gateway and the Media Access Control (MAC) address corresponding to the target IP address is known, then the packet switching device transforms then sends the broadcast or multicast frame into a unicast frame.

Abstract: In an implementation, a packet is received from a network device. A group identifier is retrieved from the received packet. A plurality of layer-2 switch identifiers that are associated with the retrieved group identifier is determined. A switch identifier is selected from the plurality of layer-2 switch identifiers. The received packet is forwarded to a layer-2 switch identified by the selected switch identifier.

Abstract: A method for location based address assignment for the distribution of traffic is provided that includes receiving a request for service from a host. A location of the host within a network environment is identified. A selected one of a plurality of gateway devices is assigned to service the host based on the location of the host within the network environment and the location of the selected one of the gateway devices within the network environment. A forwarding address associated with the selected one of the gateway devices is transmitted to the host for subsequent use by the host in forwarding network traffic.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for providing n-way gateway load-balancing in a fabric path switching Systems (FSS), such as a layer 2 multipath (L2MP) network in a large data center. An access switch in a L2MP network may learn an emulated switch IDs through FHRP “hello” messages sent by an “active” gateway router for each FHRP group. Further, the access switch may learn which links an emulated switch is reachable over by evaluating link state messages (e.g., IS-IS messages) sent by the gateway routers used to construct the emulated switch. Doing so allows the access switch to learn both the ID of an emulated switch and a set of links over which the emulated switch may be reached, thereby allowing the access switch to load balance traffic to the emulated switch.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises assigning, by a distributed gateway protocol circuit in a first network switching device, a shared Media Access Control (MAC) address to a shared Internet Protocol (IP) address, the shared MAC address and the shared IP address enabling connected network devices to reach a distributed IP gateway in a network; and sending, by a layer 2 forwarding circuit in the first network switching device, an instruction via a peer data link to a peer layer 2 forwarding circuit in a second network switching device in response to the distributed gateway protocol circuit claiming active control of the distributed IP gateway, the instruction enabling the second network switching device to operate as part of the distributed IP gateway based on concurrent use of the shared MAC address and the shared IP address by the first network switching device and the second network switching device.

Abstract: A method for location based address assignment for the distribution of traffic is provided that includes receiving a request for service from a host. A location of the host within a network environment is identified. A selected one of a plurality of gateway devices is assigned to service the host based on the location of the host within the network environment and the location of the selected one of the gateway devices within the network environment. A forwarding address associated with the selected one of the gateway devices is transmitted to the host for subsequent use by the host in forwarding network traffic.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises assigning, by a distributed gateway protocol circuit in a first network switching device, a shared Media Access Control (MAC) address to a shared Internet Protocol (IP) address, the shared MAC address and the shared IP address enabling connected network devices to reach a distributed IP gateway in a network; and sending, by a layer 2 forwarding circuit in the first network switching device, an instruction via a peer data link to a peer layer 2 forwarding circuit in a second network switching device in response to the distributed gateway protocol circuit claiming active control of the distributed IP gateway, the instruction enabling the second network switching device to operate as part of the distributed IP gateway based on concurrent use of the shared MAC address and the shared IP address by the first network switching device and the second network switching device.

Abstract: A system and method is directed to synchronizing a standby route distributor in a distributed routing platform. A route distributor is configured to operate as an active route distributor. Another route distributor is configured to operate as a standby route distributor. The standby and active route distributor may reside in the same or a different distributed routing platform. A slave route distributor communicates a route to the active route distributor. The active route distributor may update its routing tables with the route. The active route distributor forwards the route to the standby route distributor to enable their routing tables to be substantially synchronized. The standby route distributor distributes the route to the slave route distributors, where the route enables an update to another routing table. In the event of a switchover, the standby route distributor resynchronizes its routing tables and may distribute route information to each slave route distributor.

Abstract: There is disclosed a distributed platform that includes a plurality of nodes for controlling a data flow. According to this distribution platform, at least one of the plurality of nodes supports multiple instances. Also according to this platform, there is provided means for distributing classification rules for any given instance between nodes sharing the instance.

Abstract: A system and method is directed to updating a route table in a distributed routing platform, thereby enabling multiple routing protocols to be executed on different routing modules. A slave route distributor on one routing module is configured to receive a route from a local route table and flow manager. The slave route distributor communicates the route to a master route distributor on another routing module by way of an inter process communications protocol. The master route distributor provides the route to its local route table and flow manager, where a determination is made whether the route is a best route. If the route is a best route, the master route distributor updates its external routing table. The master route distributor also distributes the route to another slave route distributor on yet another routing module, where the route enables an update to a remote routing protocol, and routing table.

Abstract: A system and method is directed to synchronizing a standby route distributor in a distributed routing platform. A route distributor is configured to operate as an active route distributor. Another route distributor is configured to operate as a standby route distributor. The standby and active route distributor may reside in the same or a different distributed routing platform. A slave route distributor communicates a route to the active route distributor. The active route distributor may update its routing tables with the route. The active route distributor forwards the route to the standby route distributor to enable their routing tables to be substantially synchronized. The standby route distributor distributes the route to the slave route distributors, where the route enables an update to another routing table. In the event of a switchover, the standby route distributor resynchronizes its routing tables and may distribute route information to each slave route distributor.

Abstract: A system and method is directed to updating a route table in a distributed routing platform, thereby enabling multiple routing protocols to be executed on different routing modules. A slave route distributor on one routing module is configured to receive a route from a local route table and flow manager. The slave route distributor communicates the route to a master route distributor on another routing module by way of an inter process communications protocol. The master route distributor provides the route to its local route table and flow manager, where a determination is made whether the route is a best route. If the route is a best route, the master route distributor updates its external routing table. The master route distributor also distributes the route to another slave route distributor on yet another routing module, where the route enables an update to a remote routing protocol, and routing table.