Abstract: A control channel for routing management messages to or from an OpenFlow controller is separated from a reserved port within a data channel for routing unknown data packets to or from the OpenFlow controller. The port may be reserved by setting a reserved port flag. A packet routing table may include a table miss entry that indicates the unknown packets should be routed via the reserved port. By utilizing the reserved port to route unknown packets, the unknown packets do not traverse into the control channel, and the separation of the OpenFlow control channel from the OpenFlow data channel is enhanced.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method and device for use by a routing switch device. In response to a determination to switch the routing switch device to switch from a conventional mode to an OpenFlow mode the following operations are performed. Table items of a forwarding table in the conventional mode are converted to flow table items in the OpenFlow mode. The converted flow table items are stored in a flow table of the routing switch device. Processing a received data packet based, at least in part, on the converted flow table items stored in the flow table.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to switch mode transition and processing upon loss of controller communication. One embodiment includes losing a connection with a controller by a switch device, entering a particular mode by the switch device, transferring flow entries of the switch device to one or more tables, and notifying network application protocols that correspond to the transferred flow entries.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method and device for use by a routing switch device. In response to a determination to switch the routing switch device to switch from a conventional mode to an OpenFlow mode the following operations are performed. Table items of a forwarding table in the conventional mode are converted to flow table items in the OpenFlow mode. The converted flow table items are stored in a flow table of the routing switch device. Processing a received data packet based, at least in part, on the converted flow table items stored in the flow table.

Abstract: A control channel for routing management messages to or from an OpenFlow controller is separated from a reserved port within a data channel for routing unknown data packets to or from the OpenFlow controller. The port may be reserved by setting a reserved port flag. A packet routing table may include a table miss entry that indicates the unknown packets should be routed via the reserved port. By utilizing the reserved port to route unknown packets, the unknown packets do not traverse into the control channel, and the separation of the OpenFlow control channel from the OpenFlow data channel is enhanced.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to switch mode transition and processing upon loss of controller communication. One embodiment includes losing a connection with a controller by a switch device, entering a particular mode by the switch device, transferring flow entries of the switch device to one or more tables, and notifying network application protocols that correspond to the transferred flow entries.