Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch in a network of interconnected switches. The switch includes a network extension module, which maintains a mapping between a first virtual local area network (VLAN) identifier and a first global VLAN identifier of a network extension group. The network extension group is represented by a range of global VLAN identifiers for a tenant. A global VLAN identifier is persistent in a respective switch of the network and represents a virtual forwarding domain in the network. During operation, the network extension module includes the global VLAN identifier in a packet belonging to the first VLAN.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch in a network of interconnected switches. The switch includes a network extension module, which maintains a mapping between a first virtual local area network (VLAN) identifier and a first global VLAN identifier of a network extension group. The network extension group is represented by a range of global VLAN identifiers for a tenant. A global VLAN identifier is persistent in a respective switch of the network and represents a virtual forwarding domain in the network. During operation, the network extension module includes the global VLAN identifier in a packet belonging to the first VLAN.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch. The switch includes a fabric switch module and a border module. The fabric switch module maintains a membership in a first fabric switch. The fabric switch includes a plurality of switches and operates as a single logical switch. The border module determines that the egress switch identifier in a first encapsulation header of a first packet is associated with a switch outside of the fabric switch. The first packet is forwardable in the first fabric switch based on the first encapsulation header. In response to the determination, the border module changes the ingress switch identifier in the first encapsulation header of the first packet to a first virtual switch identifier associated with a first virtual switch. This first virtual switch externally represents the first fabric switch.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch in a network of interconnected switches. The switch includes a network extension module, which maintains a mapping between a first virtual local area network (VLAN) identifier and a first global VLAN identifier of a network extension group. The network extension group is represented by a range of global VLAN identifiers for a tenant. A global VLAN identifier is persistent in a respective switch of the network and represents a virtual forwarding domain in the network. During operation, the network extension module includes the global VLAN identifier in a packet belonging to the first VLAN.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch. The switch includes a virtual network module and a forwarding module. The virtual network module includes a global virtual local area network (VLAN) tag in a packet. The global VLAN tag is mapped to an edge VLAN tag in the packet and is associated with a datacenter domain. The datacenter domain indicates a set of ports associated with a datacenter. The forwarding module identifies an egress edge port for the packet based on the global VLAN tag.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch. The switch includes an inter-switch multicast module and an edge multicast module. The inter-switch multicast module identifies for a first replication of a multicast packet an egress inter-switch port in a multicast tree rooted at the switch. The multicast tree is identified by an identifier of the switch. The edge multicast module identifies an egress edge port for a second replication of the multicast packet based on a multicast group identifier. The multicast group identifier is local within the switch.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch in a network of interconnected switches. The switch includes a network extension module, which maintains a mapping between a first virtual local area network (VLAN) identifier and a first global VLAN identifier of a network extension group. The network extension group is represented by a range of global VLAN identifiers for a tenant. A global VLAN identifier is persistent in a respective switch of the network and represents a virtual forwarding domain in the network. During operation, the network extension module includes the global VLAN identifier in a packet belonging to the first VLAN.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch. The switch includes a fabric switch module and a border module. The fabric switch module maintains a membership in a first fabric switch. The fabric switch includes a plurality of switches and operates as a single logical switch. The border module determines that the egress switch identifier in a first encapsulation header of a first packet is associated with a switch outside of the fabric switch. The first packet is forwardable in the first fabric switch based on the first encapsulation header. In response to the determination, the border module changes the ingress switch identifier in the first encapsulation header of the first packet to a first virtual switch identifier associated with a first virtual switch. This first virtual switch externally represents the first fabric switch.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch. The switch includes an inter-switch multicast module and an edge multicast module. The inter-switch multicast module identifies for a first replication of a multicast packet an egress inter-switch port in a multicast tree rooted at the switch. The multicast tree is identified by an identifier of the switch. The edge multicast module identifies an egress edge port for a second replication of the multicast packet based on a multicast group identifier. The multicast group identifier is local within the switch.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch. The switch includes a virtual network module and a forwarding module. The virtual network module includes a global virtual local area network (VLAN) tag in a packet. The global VLAN tag is mapped to an edge VLAN tag in the packet and is associated with a datacenter domain. The datacenter domain indicates a set of ports associated with a datacenter. The forwarding module identifies an egress edge port for the packet based on the global VLAN tag.