Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining and adjusting traffic rate limits to reduce queuing delays and latency in a data center network. In various embodiments, a network controller receives network topology information and traffic data relating to flows of the network. The traffic data includes traffic matrix information, flow path information, and pause frame distribution information. Based on this information, the network controller identifies server network node interfaces that are the source of a pause frame. Flows associated with such network node interfaces are also identified and ranked based on traffic volume. For ranked flows meeting predetermined criteria, reduced traffic rate limits are calculated and sent to associated server network node interfaces. In some embodiments, the reduced traffic rate limits are incrementally recovered when normal traffic resumes on a paused link.

Abstract: A Universal Serial Bus (USB) switch includes a host port and a plurality of USB device ports. Each USB device port is configured to be coupled to a respective plurality of USB devices. A USB interface is coupled to the host port. A switch matrix is coupled between the USB interface and the plurality of USB device ports and is configured to switch the USB interface to one of the plurality of USB device ports. A switch controller is coupled to the plurality of USB interfaces, the host port, and the switch matrix. The switch controller is configured to control operation of the USB switch.

Abstract: A method implemented in a network element (NE) configured to operate in an information centric network (ICN) including receiving a test traffic flow as a copy of a traffic flow in a forwarding plane of the ICN during a defined interval, emulating the ICN at a state determined at an arrival time of the test traffic flow based on an active traffic flow in the ICN, measuring a first impact of a first candidate path for the test traffic flow in the emulated ICN to the active traffic flow, selecting the first candidate path based on the first impact measurement, and constructing a forwarding rule based on the state and the selection of the first candidate path.

Abstract: A routing technique provides a routing table which assigns weights in the process of selecting a next hop at a router, while still using an equal cost multipath selection process at the router. The routing table is configured to cross reference an IP address prefix set to a number of next hops which can be all, or fewer than all, available next hops. This occurs in each row of the table for a different IP address prefix set. Subsets of the next hops are identified in each row in a manner which results in the next hops being selected according to specified weights. An estimate of traffic to the different IP address prefix set is also considered. The routing table can be configured based on announce and withdraw messages received from a link weight translator of a controller.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining and adjusting traffic rate limits to reduce queuing delays and latency in a data center network. In various embodiments, a network controller receives network topology information and traffic data relating to flows of the network. The traffic data includes traffic matrix information, flow path information, and pause frame distribution information. Based on this information, the network controller identifies server network node interfaces that are the source of a pause frame. Flows associated with such network node interfaces are also identified and ranked based on traffic volume. For ranked flows meeting predetermined criteria, reduced traffic rate limits are calculated and sent to associated server network node interfaces. In some embodiments, the reduced traffic rate limits are incrementally recovered when normal traffic resumes on a paused link.

Abstract: A method implemented in a network element (NE) configured to operate in an information centric network (ICN) including receiving a test traffic flow as a copy of a traffic flow in a forwarding plane of the ICN during a defined interval, emulating the ICN at a state determined at an arrival time of the test traffic flow based on an active traffic flow in the ICN, measuring a first impact of a first candidate path for the test traffic flow in the emulated ICN to the active traffic flow, selecting the first candidate path based on the first impact measurement, and constructing a forwarding rule based on the state and the selection of the first candidate path.

Abstract: A method implemented in a network element (NE) configured to operate in an information centric network (ICN) including receiving a test traffic flow as a copy of a traffic flow in a forwarding plane of the ICN during a defined interval, emulating the ICN at a state determined at an arrival time of the test traffic flow based on an active traffic flow in the ICN, measuring a first impact of a first candidate path for the test traffic flow in the emulated ICN to the active traffic flow, selecting the first candidate path based on the first impact measurement, and constructing a forwarding rule based on the state and the selection of the first candidate path.

Abstract: A device comprises a memory storage comprising instructions; a network interface connected to a network; and one or more processors in communication with the memory storage. The one or more processors execute the instructions to perform: receiving, from a control server and via the network interface, a list of server agents; sending, to each server agent of the list of server agents via the network interface, a probe packet; receiving, via the network interface, responses to the probe packets; tracking a number of consecutive probe packets for which responses were not received from a first server agent of the list of server agents; comparing the number of consecutive probe packets for which responses were not received from the first server agent to a predetermined threshold; and sending, via the network interface, response data that includes a result of the comparison.

Abstract: A Universal Serial Bus (USB) switch includes a host port and a plurality of USB device ports. Each USB device port is configured to be coupled to a respective plurality of USB devices. A USB interface is coupled to the host port. A switch matrix is coupled between the USB interface and the plurality of USB device ports and is configured to switch the USB interface to one of the plurality of USB device ports. A switch controller is coupled to the plurality of USB interfaces, the host port, and the switch matrix. The switch controller is configured to control operation of the USB switch.

Abstract: One or more processors of a device execute instructions to identify a set of servers that includes a first server and a second server in a plurality of data centers; send a first list of servers to the first server; send a second list of servers to the second server; receive a first set of response data from the first server, the first set of response data indicating responsiveness of the servers in the first list of servers; receive a second set of response data from the second server, the second set of response data indicating responsiveness of the servers in the second list of servers; analyze the first set of response data and the second set of response data; and based on the analysis, generate an alert that indicates a network error in a data center.

Abstract: A routing technique provides a routing table which assigns weights in the process of selecting a next hop at a router, while still using an equal cost multipath selection process at the router. The routing table is configured to cross reference an IP address prefix set to a number of next hops which can be all, or fewer than all, available next hops. This occurs in each row of the table for a different IP address prefix set. Subsets of the next hops are identified in each row in a manner which results in the next hops being selected according to specified weights. An estimate of traffic to the different IP address prefix set is also considered. The routing table can be configured based on announce and withdraw messages received from a link weight translator of a controller.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to technology for load balancing link utilization of a networking device based on fractal analysis. In one embodiment, link utilization of switches, routers, etc. in a data center is balanced based on a fractal model of the link utilization. Techniques disclosed herein are proactive. For example, instead of reacting to link congestion, the technique predicts future link utilization based on fractal analysis. Then, packet flows (or flowlets) may be assigned to links based on the predicted future link utilization. Hence, congestion on links may be reduced or prevented.

Abstract: A method implemented in a network element (NE) configured to operate in an information centric network (ICN) including receiving a test traffic flow as a copy of a traffic flow in a forwarding plane of the ICN during a defined interval, emulating the ICN at a state determined at an arrival time of the test traffic flow based on an active traffic flow in the ICN, measuring a first impact of a first candidate path for the test traffic flow in the emulated ICN to the active traffic flow, selecting the first candidate path based on the first impact measurement, and constructing a forwarding rule based on the state and the selection of the first candidate path.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to technology for discovering a topology in a network. The discovery procedure includes providing a representation for the topology of the network and transmitting a probe message to a probed network node. The representation identifies neighboring nodes of the probed network node. In response to receiving a returned message corresponding to the probed message from the network, it is determined whether the probe message was returned from a newly discovered neighboring node of the probed network node. In response to determining that the returned message corresponding to the probe message was returned by the newly discovered neighboring node, the representation of the topology is updated to identify the newly discovered neighboring node of the probed network node. The probe message is then transmitted to the newly discovered neighboring node.

Abstract: A method implemented in a network element (NE) configured to operate in an information centric network (ICN), comprising receiving a plurality of test traffic flows, wherein the test traffic flows are copies of a number of traffic flows received in a forwarding plane of the ICN during a defined interval; emulating the ICN at a state determined at an arrival time of the test traffic flows to the NE and defined based on a plurality of active traffic flows in the ICN; measuring a first impact of a plurality of first candidate paths for a first test traffic flow from the test traffic flows in the emulated ICN to the active traffic flows; selecting one of the first candidate paths based on the first impact measurement; measuring a second impact of a plurality of second candidate paths for a second test traffic flow from the test traffic flows in the emulated ICN to active traffic flows and the selected first candidate test path; selecting one of the second candidate paths based on the second impact measurement; an

Abstract: The disclosure relates to technology for load balancing link utilization of a networking device based on fractal analysis. In one embodiment, link utilization of switches, routers, etc. in a data center is balanced based on a fractal model of the link utilization. Techniques disclosed herein are proactive. For example, instead of reacting to link congestion, the technique predicts future link utilization based on fractal analysis. Then, packet flows (or flowlets) may be assigned to links based on the predicted future link utilization. Hence, congestion on links may be reduced or prevented.

Abstract: A method for reducing response times in an information-centric network includes receiving an indication from an ingress node of a content object entering a network, the content object associated with a new delivery flow through the network. An egress node in the network for the content object and a size of the content object are identified. A backlog and bandwidth for the new delivery flow is determined based in part on the size of the content object. Backlogs and bandwidths for existing delivery flows in the network are determined. A set of candidate paths in the network for the new delivery flow from the ingress node to the egress node is determined. For each candidate path, a total response time is estimated for completion of all delivery flows for each candidate path based on the backlog and bandwidth. The candidate path having the lowest total response time is selected for the new delivery flow.

Abstract: A transmitting device implements a method for recovering TCP segments. The transmitting device transmits a plurality of transmission control protocol (TCP) segments to a receiving device one by one in sequence. After the transmission of the TCP segments, the transmitting device receives one or more TCP responses sent by the receiving device. Based on the received one or more TCP responses, the transmitting device identifies one or more TCP segments having communication failures. After the one or more TCP segments are identified, the transmitting device generates a probe based on the identified one or more TCP segments. With the probe, the transmitting device transmits a recovery TCP segment carrying the probe to the receiving device.

Abstract: A network switch comprising a plurality of ports each comprising a plurality of queues, and a processor coupled to the plurality of ports, the processor configured to obtain a packet traveling along a path from a source to a destination, determine a reverse path port positioned along a reverse path from the destination to the source, obtain a queue occupancy counter from the packet, the queue occupancy counter indicating an aggregate congestion of queues along the reverse path, and update the queue occupancy counter with congestion data of the queues for the reverse path port.

Abstract: A method implemented in a network element (NE) configured to operate in an information centric network (ICN), comprising receiving a plurality of test traffic flows, wherein the test traffic flows are copies of a number of traffic flows received in a forwarding plane of the ICN during a defined interval; emulating the ICN at a state determined at an arrival time of the test traffic flows to the NE and defined based on a plurality of active traffic flows in the ICN; measuring a first impact of a plurality of first candidate paths for a first test traffic flow from the test traffic flows in the emulated ICN to the active traffic flows; selecting one of the first candidate paths based on the first impact measurement; measuring a second impact of a plurality of second candidate paths for a second test traffic flow from the test traffic flows in the emulated ICN to active traffic flows and the selected first candidate test path; selecting one of the second candidate paths based on the second impact measurement; an