Abstract: An authorization method using provisioned certificates is disclosed. The method includes writing security attributes to fields within a certificate and issuing the certificate to a software application on a principal node. The software application requests to perform actions on one or more resources on a resource node, sending one or more action requests along with a copy of its certificate. The resource node has an agent which verifies the permissions from the certificate and routes the request to its designated resource. The resource node returns one or more messages to the principal node, verifying whether or not complete the requests.

Abstract: Methods and network interface devices for establishing a secure and authenticated network connection are provided. The method comprises: receiving, from a requesting entity, a destination IP address and a first certificate that is used to establish a secure network connection, wherein the first certificate comprises a first security attribute that is associated with a source destination IP address; identifying, with aid of one or more processors, a stored second security attribute associated with the destination IP address; and determining, with aid of the one or more processors, a policy action based at least in part on the first security attribute and the second security attribute.

Abstract: An authorization method using provisioned certificates is disclosed. The method includes writing security attributes to fields within a certificate and issuing the certificate to a software application on a principal node. The software application requests to perform actions on one or more resources on a resource node, sending one or more action requests along with a copy of its certificate. The resource node has an agent which verifies the permissions from the certificate and routes the request to its designated resource. The resource node returns one or more messages to the principal node, verifying whether or not complete the requests.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for applying network policy to communications originating at operating system virtual interfaces. In an example embodiment, a network device is networked with a switch. The network device may include a first operating system interface, a virtualization adapter, and an input output port. In an example embodiment, the virtualization adapter receives a first frame from the first operating system interface. The virtualization adapter may tag the first frame to indicate an association between the first frame and the first operating system interface. The first frame may then be transmitted with a second frame being associated with a second operating system interface, to the switch via the input output port. In an example embodiment, the switch is configured to receive the frame, examine a tag and then to enforce a network policy upon the first frame, based on the tag.

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: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for applying network policy to communications originating at operating system virtual interfaces. In an example embodiment, a network device is networked with a switch. The network device may include a first operating system interface, a virtualization adapter, and an input output port. In an example embodiment, the virtualization adapter receives a first frame from the first operating system interface. The virtualization adapter may tag the first frame to indicate an association between the first frame and the first operating system interface. The first frame may then be transmitted with a second frame being associated with a second operating system interface, to the switch via the input output port. In an example embodiment, the switch is configured to receive the frame, examine a tag and then to enforce a network policy upon the first frame, based on the tag.