Abstract: A flow routing system includes a source device and a destination device that are coupled together via a network that includes a Software Defined Networking (SDN) device. The source device generates a packet that includes a packet header, provides a connection identifier in the packet header, and transmits the packet through the network. The SDN device receives the packet through the network from the source device, matches the connection identifier that is included in the packet header to a single tuple in a flow entry of a flow table and, in response, uses the flow entry to route the packet through the network to the destination device. The connection identifier may be provided by hashing a source IP address, a destination IP address, a VLAN identity, a source MAC address, a source port identifier, a destination port identifier; and a creation time for the flow including the packet.

Abstract: A flow routing system includes a source device and a destination device that are coupled together via a network that includes a Software Defined Networking (SDN) device. The source device generates a packet that includes a packet header, provides a connection identifier in the packet header, and transmits the packet through the network. The SDN device receives the packet through the network from the source device, matches the connection identifier that is included in the packet header to a single tuple in a flow entry of a flow table and, in response, uses the flow entry to route the packet through the network to the destination device. The connection identifier may be provided by hashing a source IP address, a destination IP address, a VLAN identity, a source MAC address, a source port identifier, a destination port identifier; and a creation time for the flow including the packet.