Abstract: In an embodiment, a computer-implemented method provides mechanisms for identifying a source location in a service chaining topology. In an embodiment, a method comprises: determining, at an egress interface of a host that hosts a virtual machine (“VM”), whether a service plane MAC address (“spmac”) in a packet header of a packet, provided to the egress interface, is the same as an inner destination MAC address in the packet; in response to determining that the spmac in the packet header of the packet, provided to the egress interface, is the same as the inner destination MAC address in the packet: encapsulating the packet with a destination virtual tunnel endpoint (“VTEP”) address retrieved from a mapping of VTEP-labels onto VTEP addresses; and causing providing the packet from the egress interface of the host that hosts the VM to a source host that hosts a source guest virtual machine (“GVM”).

Abstract: A method for offloading multicast replication from multiple tiers of edge nodes implemented by multiple host machines to a physical switch is provided. Each of the multiple host machines implements a provider edge node and a tenant edge node. One host machine among the multiple host machines receives a packet having an overlay multicast group identifier. The host machine maps the overlay multicast group identifier to an underlay multicast group identifier. The host machine encapsulates the packet with an encapsulation header that includes the underlay multicast group identifier to create an encapsulated packet. The host machine forwards the encapsulated packet to a physical switch of the network segment. The physical switch forwards copies of the encapsulated packet to tenant edge nodes at one or more ports that are determined to be interested in the underlay multicast group identifier.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for configuring a set of MFEs to implement a distributed multicast logical router and multiple logical switches to process the multicast data messages. The method sends, from a managed forwarding element (MFE) implementing the distributed multicast logical router, a multicast group query to a set of data compute nodes (DCNs) that are logically connected to one of several logical switches and that execute on the same host machine as the managed forwarding element. The method receives multicast group reports from a subset of the set of DCNs and at least one of the multicast group reports specifies a multicast group of interest. The method distributes, to a set of MFEs executing on other host machines, a summarized multicast group report specifying a set of multicast groups of interest to the first MFE (i.e., multicast groups that the first MFE participates in).

Abstract: A method for offloading multicast replication from multiple tiers of edge nodes implemented by multiple host machines to a physical switch is provided. Each of the multiple host machines implements a provider edge node and a tenant edge node. One host machine among the multiple host machines receives a packet having an overlay multicast group identifier. The host machine maps the overlay multicast group identifier to an underlay multicast group identifier. The host machine encapsulates the packet with an encapsulation header that includes the underlay multicast group identifier to create an encapsulated packet. The host machine forwards the encapsulated packet to a physical switch of the network segment. The physical switch forwards copies of the encapsulated packet to tenant edge nodes at one or more ports that are determined to be interested in the underlay multicast group identifier.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method for forwarding multicast data messages at a forwarding element on a host computer. The method receives a multicast data message from a routing element executing on the host computer along with metadata appended to the multicast data message by the routing element. Based on a destination address of the multicast data message, the method identifies a set of recipient ports for a multicast group with which the multicast data message is associated. For each recipient port, the method uses the metadata appended to the multicast data message by the routing element to determine whether to deliver a copy of the multicast data message to the recipient port.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method of replicating messages for a logical network. At a particular tunnel endpoint in a particular datacenter, the method receives a message to be replicated to members of a replication group. The method replicates the message to a set of tunnel endpoints of the replication group located in a same segment of the particular datacenter as the particular tunnel endpoint. The method replicates the message to a first set of proxy endpoints of the replication group, each of which is located in a different segment of the particular datacenter and for replicating the message to tunnel endpoints located in its respective segment of the particular datacenter. The method replicates the message to a second set of proxy endpoints of the replication group, each of which is located in a different datacenter and for replicating the message to tunnel endpoints located in its respective datacenter.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method of forwarding data messages between source and destination host computers that execute source and destination machines. At a source computer on which a source machine for a data message flow executes, the method in some embodiments identifies a source tunnel endpoint group (TEPG) associated with the source machine. For the flow, the method selects one TEP of the TEPG as the source TEP. The method then uses the selected source TEP to forward the flow to the destination computer on which the destination machine executes.

Abstract: The disclosure provides an approach for deploying an software defined networking (SDN) solution for overlay routing of traffic on a host with colocated a workload virtual machine (VM), addressable on an overlay network and VM addressable on an underlay network. An overlay interceptor in a hypervisor of the host can intercept traffic from a virtual switch and route the traffic to destination VM. The overlay interceptor can route the traffic directly, without the traffic exiting the host. A fast path can be created for the routing.

Abstract: Certain embodiments herein are directed to a method of by a source virtual tunnel endpoint (VTEP) for selecting a tunneling protocol for encapsulating a packet destined for a destination VTEP. In some embodiments, the method includes receiving the packet for transmission to the destination VTEP. The method further includes determining whether the destination VTEP is configured with a first tunneling protocol. Upon determining that the destination VTEP is configured with the first tunneling protocol, the method includes encapsulating the packet using the first tunneling protocol, and transmitting the encapsulated packet to the destination VTEP. Upon determining that the destination VTEP is not configured with the first tunneling protocol, encapsulating the packet using a second tunneling protocol, and transmitting the encapsulated packet to the destination VTEP.

Abstract: A method of transmitting multicast traffic to workloads of tenants communicating over overlay networks provisioned on top of a physical network includes the steps of: detecting the multicast traffic; determining that the multicast traffic is bound for workloads of a first tenant and workloads of a second tenant; encapsulating one instance of the multicast traffic using a Layer 2 (L2) over Layer 3 (L3) encapsulation protocol to generate encapsulated traffic, wherein the encapsulated traffic includes an identifier of a first backplane network corresponding to the first tenant and an identifier of a second backplane network corresponding to the second tenant in a header portion of each packet of the encapsulated traffic; and transmitting, to a first host computing device, the encapsulated traffic with the identifiers of the first and second overlay networks.

Abstract: Example methods and systems for virtual tunnel endpoint (VTEP) mapping for overlay networking are described. One example may involve a computer system monitoring multiple VTEPs that are configured for overlay networking. In response to detecting a state transition associated with a first VTEP from a healthy state to an unhealthy state, the computer system may identify mapping information that associates a virtualized computing instance with the first VTEP in the unhealthy state; and update the mapping information to associate the virtualized computing instance with a second VTEP in the healthy state. In response to detecting an egress packet from the virtualized computing instance to a destination, an encapsulated packet may be generated and sent towards the destination based on the updated mapping information. The encapsulated packet may include the egress packet and an outer header identifying the second VTEP to be a source VTEP.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method receives a packet for a flow from a first application in a first workload to a second application in a second workload. The packet includes an inner header that includes layer 4 information for the first application. The method determines if a setting indicates an outer source port in an outer header should be generated using layer 4 information from the inner header. The setting is based on an analysis of packet types in the flow to determine if fragmented packets are sent. When the setting indicates the outer source port in the outer header should be generated using layer 4 information from the inner header, the method generates the outer source port using the layer 4 information for the first application from the inner header. The packet is encapsulated using the outer header, wherein the outer header includes the outer source port.

Abstract: A method of transmitting multicast traffic to workloads of tenants communicating over overlay networks provisioned on top of a physical network includes the steps of: detecting the multicast traffic; determining that the multicast traffic is bound for workloads of a first tenant and workloads of a second tenant; encapsulating one instance of the multicast traffic using a Layer 2 (L2) over Layer 3 (L3) encapsulation protocol to generate encapsulated traffic, wherein the encapsulated traffic includes an identifier of a first backplane network corresponding to the first tenant and an identifier of a second backplane network corresponding to the second tenant in a header portion of each packet of the encapsulated traffic; and transmitting, to a first host computing device, the encapsulated traffic with the identifiers of the first and second overlay networks.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a computer-implemented method provides mechanisms for identifying a source location in a service chaining topology. In an embodiment, a method comprises: receiving a query, from a service plane implementation module executing on a host of a service virtual machine (“SVM”), for a location of a source host implementing a guest virtual machine (“source GVM”) that originated a packet in a computer network and that serviced the packet; in response to receiving the query, performing a search of bindings associated with one or more virtual network identifiers (“VNIs”) or service virtual network identifiers (“SVNIs”) to identify a particular binding that includes a MAC address of the host implementing the source GVM; identifying, in the particular binding, the location of the source host; and providing the location of the source host to the host of the SVM to facilitate forwarding of the packet from the SVM to the GVM.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method receives a packet for a flow from a first application in a first workload to a second application in a second workload. The packet includes an inner header that includes layer 4 information for the first application. The method determines if a setting indicates an outer source port in an outer header should be generated using layer 4 information from the inner header. The setting is based on an analysis of packet types in the flow to determine if fragmented packets are sent. When the setting indicates the outer source port in the outer header should be generated using layer 4 information from the inner header, the method generates the outer source port using the layer 4 information for the first application from the inner header. The packet is encapsulated using the outer header, wherein the outer header includes the outer source port.

Abstract: The disclosure provides an approach for seamless hand-off of data traffic in public cloud environments. Techniques are provided for activating an edge services gateway (ESG) virtual computing instance (VCI) on a new host. Prior to activating the ESG VCI on the new host, an underlay routing table is reprogrammed to associate a first IP address of a first tunnel endpoint (TEP) with a first network interface of an old host and to associate a second IP address of a second TEP with a second network interface of the new host. The routing table associates a third IP address of the ESG VCI with the first network interface. After activating the ESG VCI, a packet having as a destination address the third IP address is received at the first network interface and is encapsulated, by the first TEP, with an outer header having as a destination address the second IP address.

Abstract: A method for offloading multicast replication from multiple tiers of edge nodes implemented by multiple host machines to a physical switch is provided. Each of the multiple host machines implements a provider edge node and a tenant edge node. One host machine among the multiple host machines receives a packet having an overlay multicast group identifier. The host machine maps the overlay multicast group identifier to an underlay multicast group identifier. The host machine encapsulates the packet with an encapsulation header that includes the underlay multicast group identifier to create an encapsulated packet. The host machine forwards the encapsulated packet to a physical switch of the network segment. The physical switch forwards copies of the encapsulated packet to tenant edge nodes at one or more ports that are determined to be interested in the underlay multicast group identifier.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method of replicating messages for a logical network. At a particular tunnel endpoint in a particular datacenter, the method receives a message to be replicated to members of a replication group. The method replicates the message to a set of tunnel endpoints of the replication group located in a same segment of the particular datacenter as the particular tunnel endpoint. The method replicates the message to a first set of proxy endpoints of the replication group, each of which is located in a different segment of the particular datacenter and for replicating the message to tunnel endpoints located in its respective segment of the particular datacenter. The method replicates the message to a second set of proxy endpoints of the replication group, each of which is located in a different datacenter and for replicating the message to tunnel endpoints located in its respective datacenter.

Abstract: A method of transmitting multicast traffic to workloads of tenants communicating over overlay networks provisioned on top of a physical network includes the steps of: detecting the multicast traffic; determining that the multicast traffic is bound for workloads of a first tenant and workloads of a second tenant; encapsulating one instance of the multicast traffic using a Layer 2 (L2) over Layer 3 (L3) encapsulation protocol to generate encapsulated traffic, wherein the encapsulated traffic includes an identifier of a first backplane network corresponding to the first tenant and an identifier of a second backplane network corresponding to the second tenant in a header portion of each packet of the encapsulated traffic; and transmitting, to a first host computing device, the encapsulated traffic with the identifiers of the first and second overlay networks.

Abstract: The disclosure provides an approach for reducing multicast traffic within a network by optimizing placement of virtual machines within subnets and within hosts, and by optimizing mapping of overlay multicast groups to underlay multicast groups. In one embodiment, substantially all VMs of a multicast group are migrated to the same subnet of the network. Thereafter or independently, VMs in the same subnet are migrated to the same host, ideally to the subnet proxy endpoint of that subnet. In the same or in another embodiment, if multiple overlay groups map to the same underlay group, one or more of the overlay groups may be remapped to a separate underlay group to improve network performance.