Abstract: A method and apparatus of a network element that processes data by a network element with a data processing pipeline is described. In an exemplary embodiment, the network element receives network data and performs a policy-based routing lookup using one or more characteristics of the network data to retrieve a next hop identifier. In addition, the network element generates a key for the next hop identifier and performs a longest prefix match lookup to retrieve a forwarding result. The network element further determines a next hop interface based on the forwarding result.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of a network element that processes data by a network element with a data processing pipeline is described. In an exemplary embodiment, the network element receives network data and performs a policy-based routing lookup using one or more characteristics of the network data to retrieve a next hop identifier. In addition, the network element generates a key for the next hop identifier and performs a longest prefix match lookup to retrieve a forwarding result. The network element further determines a next hop interface based on the forwarding result.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a switch controller in communication with a plurality of switches in a switch cluster via a communication protocol. The switch controller includes a processor and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor. The logic is configured to cause the processor to receive an address resolution protocol (ARP) request packet as a unicast packet from an entry switch in the switch cluster, the entry switch being connected to a first host. The logic is also configured to cause the processor to send an ARP response packet as a unicast packet to the entry switch. The ARP response packet indicates a media access control (MAC) address of the switch controller as a source MAC (SMAC) for the ARP response packet, and an internet protocol (IP) address of a virtual router of the switch controller as being a source of the ARP response packet.

Abstract: Data traffic switching among computing device in a SAN environment is disclosed herein. According to an aspect, a method may be implemented at an NPV device that is associated with multiple computing devices positioned behind the NPV device in a SAN. The method may also include receiving zoning information associated with the computing devices. The method may also include determining, based on the zoning information a map for switching data traffic among the computing devices. Further, the method may include switching the data traffic among the computing devices based on the determined map.

Abstract: Data traffic switching among computing device in a SAN environment is disclosed herein. According to an aspect, a method may be implemented at an NPV device that is associated with multiple computing devices positioned behind the NPV device in a SAN. The method may also include receiving zoning information associated with the computing devices. The method may also include determining, based on the zoning information a map for switching data traffic among the computing devices. Further, the method may include switching the data traffic among the computing devices based on the determined map.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a switch controller in communication with a plurality of switches in a switch cluster via a communication protocol. The switch controller includes a processor and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor. The logic is configured to cause the processor to receive an address resolution protocol (ARP) request packet as a unicast packet from an entry switch in the switch cluster, the entry switch being connected to a first host. The logic is also configured to cause the processor to send an ARP response packet as a unicast packet to the entry switch. The ARP response packet indicates a media access control (MAC) address of the switch controller as a source MAC (SMAC) for the ARP response packet, and an internet protocol (IP) address of a virtual router of the switch controller as being a source of the ARP response packet.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for distributing a fabric name to switching elements of a distributed switch configured to forward Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) frames. A distributed switch membership distributed (DMFD) message is transmitted that includes names of all switching elements in the distributed switch, and further includes a fabric descriptor that contains the fabric name.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for distributing a fabric name to switching elements of a distributed switch configured to forward Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) frames. A distributed switch membership distributed (DMFD) message is transmitted that includes names of all switching elements in the distributed switch, and further includes a fabric descriptor that contains the fabric name.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, Layer-3 (L3) distributed router functionality is provided to a switch cluster by receiving an address resolution protocol (ARP) request packet from a first host at an entry switch in a switch cluster, a switch controller being in communication with the entry switch, and the ARP request packet including a virtual router IP address of the switch controller as a target, forwarding the ARP request packet to the switch controller after adding a header that adheres to a communication protocol used by the switch controller, receiving an ARP response packet from the switch controller indicating: a source IP address corresponding to a virtual router of the switch controller and a SMAC corresponding to the switch controller, forwarding the ARP response packet to the first host after stripping the communication protocol header, and setting the virtual router as a default gateway for traffic received from the first host.

Abstract: Data traffic switching among computing device in a SAN environment is disclosed herein. According to an aspect, a method may be implemented at an NPV device that is associated with multiple computing devices positioned behind the NPV device in a SAN. The method may also include receiving zoning information associated with the computing devices. The method may also include determining, based on the zoning information a map for switching data traffic among the computing devices. Further, the method may include switching the data traffic among the computing devices based on the determined map.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for updating zone information in a distributed switch of data forwarders. For each data forwarder, a sequence number is maintained for zone distribution messages sent to the data forwarder. A change to the ports in the network is detected comprising at least one of an allocation or deallocation of at least one port in the network. The sequence number for each data forwarder is incremented in response to detecting the change. For each data forwarder, a zone distribution message is generated indicating the at least one port allocated and/or deallocated, port information indicating each port in the network that may communicate with each other port, and the sequence number for the data forwarder. The generated zone distribution message is transmitted for each data forwarder to the data forwarder for which the zone distribution message was added.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for updating zone information in a distributed switch of data forwarders. For each data forwarder, a sequence number is maintained for zone distribution messages sent to the data forwarder. A change to the ports in the network is detected comprising at least one of an allocation or deallocation of at least one port in the network. The sequence number for each data forwarder is incremented in response to detecting the change. For each data forwarder, a zone distribution message is generated indicating the at least one port allocated and/or deallocated, port information indicating each port in the network that may communicate with each other port, and the sequence number for the data forwarder. The generated zone distribution message is transmitted for each data forwarder to the data forwarder for which the zone distribution message was added.

Abstract: Data traffic switching among computing device in a SAN environment is disclosed herein. According to an aspect, a method may be implemented at an NPV device that is associated with multiple computing devices positioned behind the NPV device in a SAN. The method may also include receiving zoning information associated with the computing devices. The method may also include determining, based on the zoning information a map for switching data traffic among the computing devices. Further, the method may include switching the data traffic among the computing devices based on the determined map.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for distributing a fabric name to switching elements of a distributed switch configured to forward Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) frames. A distributed switch membership distributed (DMFD) message is transmitted that includes names of all switching elements in the distributed switch, and further includes a fabric descriptor that contains the fabric name.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for distributing a fabric name to switching elements of a distributed switch configured to forward Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) frames. A distributed switch membership distributed (DMFD) message is transmitted that includes names of all switching elements in the distributed switch, and further includes a fabric descriptor that contains the fabric name.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a system includes a switch controller in communication with a plurality of switches in a switch cluster via a communication protocol, at least one switch in the switch cluster being configured to connect to a host, wherein the switch controller is configured to: maintain a Layer-3 (L3) host table configured to store entries including address information for hosts connected directly to the switch cluster, apply a policy to all existing entries in the L3 host table, and remove one or more existing entries according to the policy in order to reduce a number of entries in the L3 host table. In other embodiments, systems, computer program products, and methods for managing a L3 host table in software defined network (SDN)-based switch clusters having L3 distributed router functionality are presented.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, Layer-3 (L3) distributed router functionality is provided to a switch cluster by receiving an address resolution protocol (ARP) request packet from a first host at an entry switch in a switch cluster, a switch controller being in communication with the entry switch, and the ARP request packet including a virtual router IP address of the switch controller as a target, forwarding the ARP request packet to the switch controller after adding a header that adheres to a communication protocol used by the switch controller, receiving an ARP response packet from the switch controller indicating: a source IP address corresponding to a virtual router of the switch controller and a SMAC corresponding to the switch controller, forwarding the ARP response packet to the first host after stripping the communication protocol header, and setting the virtual router as a default gateway for traffic received from the first host.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for updating zone information in a distributed switch of data forwarders. For each data forwarder, a sequence number is maintained for zone distribution messages sent to the data forwarder. A change to the ports in the network is detected comprising at least one of an allocation or deallocation of at least one port in the network. The sequence number for each data forwarder is incremented in response to detecting the change. For each data forwarder, a zone distribution message is generated indicating the at least one port allocated and/or deallocated, port information indicating each port in the network that may communicate with each other port, and the sequence number for the data forwarder. The generated zone distribution message is transmitted for each data forwarder to the data forwarder for which the zone distribution message was added.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for updating zone information in a distributed switch of data forwarders. For each data forwarder, a sequence number is maintained for zone distribution messages sent to the data forwarder. A change to the ports in the network is detected comprising at least one of an allocation or deallocation of at least one port in the network. The sequence number for each data forwarder is incremented in response to detecting the change. For each data forwarder, a zone distribution message is generated indicating the at least one port allocated and/or deallocated, port information indicating each port in the network that may communicate with each other port, and the sequence number for the data forwarder. The generated zone distribution message is transmitted for each data forwarder to the data forwarder for which the zone distribution message was added.

Abstract: Provided are methods and apparatus that enforce zoning rules by separately employing source and destination information. In certain embodiments, information uniquely identifying network destinations is provided on a destination CAM. In these embodiments, each destination identified in the destination CAM has an associated zoning decision vector provided in a results memory. The vector provides specific zoning decisions (permit or deny transmission) for specific sources on the network. The specific zoning decision to be applied to a frame under consideration is selected from a zoning decision vector by using source information taken from the frame.