Abstract: In one embodiment, a system and method are disclosed for receiving, at a first network routing element, a discovery message sent via a network, where the discovery message comprises identifying information that identifies a physical location of a first network device. The method modifies the identifying information in the discovery message by adding additional information to the identifying information, where the additional information can, for example, identify a physical location of the first network routing element. Subsequent to modifying the identifying information, the method forwards the discovery message to a network element, where the network element can be, for example, either a second network routing element or a server.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system and method are disclosed for receiving, at a first network routing element, a discovery message sent via a network, where the discovery message comprises identifying information that identifies a physical location of a first network device. The method modifies the identifying information in the discovery message by adding additional information to the identifying information, where the additional information can, for example, identify a physical location of the first network routing element. Subsequent to modifying the identifying information, the method forwards the discovery message to a network element, where the network element can be, for example, either a second network routing element or a server.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system and method are disclosed for sending a discovery message, via a network, from a first network device. The sending is performed in response to the first network device being associated with a first machine. The method involves receiving an offer message via the network, where the offer message includes network name information that indicates a physical location of the device within a topology of the network. The method also involves using the network name information to communicate with a second network device via the network.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system and method are disclosed for sending a discovery message, via a network, from a first network device. The sending is performed in response to the first network device being associated with a first machine. The method involves receiving an offer message via the network, where the offer message includes network name information that indicates a physical location of the device within a topology of the network. The method also involves using the network name information to communicate with a second network device via the network.

Abstract: A method for allocating port assignments for transmitting a reserved network stream across a network node comprises determining a cycle time associated with a network node. The method also comprises establishing, for at least one port of the network node, a plurality of virtual layers associated with the cycle time, wherein each of the plurality of virtual layers is divided into 2n equally-spaced slots per cycle (where n>0). The method further comprises receiving a reserved stream request associated with transmission of a reserved stream across the node, and determining a number of slots required to transmit the reserved stream. The method also comprises assigning one or more slots associated with a port of the network node to the transmission of packets associated with the reserved stream based on the determined number of slots. The method further comprises transmitting the stream according to the slot assignment associated with the port of the network node.

Abstract: A crossbar switch is provided that can allocate output port bandwidth both among multiple classes of service and among input ports. In one implementation, there are two scheduling stages that may be implemented together. One scheduling stage can select traffic for output based on class of service whereas the other scheduling stage may perform a further selection based on destination output port. This allows greater flexibility in managing congestion and allocating limited available bandwidth.