Interrupt moderation
Granted: March 18, 2014
Patent Number:
8677042
A technique for interrupt moderation allows coalescing interrupts from a device into groups to be processed as a batch by a host processor. Receive and send completions may be processed differently. When the host is interrupted for receive completions, it may check for send completions, reducing the need for interrupts related to send completions. Timers and a counter allow coalescing interrupts into a single interrupt that can be used to signal the host to process multiple completions.…
Conflict identification in label switched services
Granted: March 18, 2014
Patent Number:
8675494
Administrative logic is configured to discover routers in a network providing one or more label switched services and evaluate the configuration information of the label switched services to identify conflicts in the label switched services (e.g., configuration information errors). By identifying conflicts for one or more label switched services, the administrative logic generates a notification identifying the conflict and potentially the type of conflict. In particular, in one…
Redundant host connection in a routed network
Granted: March 4, 2014
Patent Number:
8665886
One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch. The switch includes a management mechanism and a configuration mechanism. During operation, the management mechanism is configured to operate the switch in conjunction with the partner switch as a single logical switch. The configuration mechanism is configured to assign a virtual switch identifier to the logical switch.
Method and apparatus for establishing metazones across dissimilar networks
Granted: February 25, 2014
Patent Number:
8660141
A system and method for creating and enforcing meta-zones that cross the interface between different network protocols are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of enforcing meta-zones comprises: (a) receiving an Infiniband (IB) packet destined for a Fiber Channel (FC) target device; (b) comparing a partition key in the IB packet to a partition key associated with the FC target device; and (c) converting the IB packet to a FC frame only if the partition keys match. The method may…
Congestion notification in private VLANs
Granted: February 25, 2014
Patent Number:
8660075
One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch. During operation, in a network with a private VLAN configuration, the switch allows a congestion notification message with an isolated virtual local area network identifier (VLAN ID) to be forwarded via an isolated VLAN port.
Techniques for link redundancy in layer 2 networks
Granted: February 18, 2014
Patent Number:
8654630
Techniques for facilitating link redundancy using an enhanced version of Virtual Switch Redundancy Protocol (VSRP), referred to herein as VSRP2. In one set of embodiments, a group of Layer 2 and/or Layer 2/3 devices (switches) can act in concert as a VSRP2 virtual switch. A first switch in the group (a VSRP2 master switch) can forward, via a first link, data traffic to/from a network device in a connected Layer 2 network. A second switch in the group (a VSRP2 backup switch) can block, at…
Two-port memory implemented with single-port memory blocks
Granted: February 4, 2014
Patent Number:
8645609
A two-port memory having a read port, a write port and a plurality of identical single-port RAM banks. The capacity of one of the single-port RAM banks is used to resolve collisions between simultaneous read and write accesses to the same single-port RAM bank. A read mapping memory stores instance information that maps logical banks and a spare bank to the single-port RAM banks for read accesses. Similarly, a write mapping memory stores write instance information that maps logical banks…
Dynamic performance monitoring
Granted: January 28, 2014
Patent Number:
8639802
A management server uses one or more performance monitoring data collectors to generate SNMP queries. Each collector can be configured to specify one or more performance parameters. Using each configured collector, the management server can collect performance parameter data for managed devices in a network. When the management server receives performance data, the management server traverses through each response to look for performance values associated with each performance parameter.…
Path detection in trill networks
Granted: January 21, 2014
Patent Number:
8634308
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for detecting a path between two nodes. During operation, the system transmits a network-testing request frame, which includes a time-to-live (TTL) field within a Transparent Interconnection of Lots of Links (TRILL) header, from a source node to a destination node. In response to receiving a network-testing response frame sent from an intermediate node, the system increments the TTL value by 1 and re-transmits the network-testing…
Remote Fports
Granted: January 21, 2014
Patent Number:
8635375
Disclosed techniques allow for devices of a SAN to login to an F_port of a different switch than the switch to which the device is physically connected. These techniques allow moving some of the capability from an edge switch to another switch in the fabric, with the edge switch transporting incoming frames from the device to the other switch and thence across the SAN to the destination device, and similarly transporting outgoing frames from the more-capable switch to the edge switch for…
Converged network extension
Granted: January 7, 2014
Patent Number:
8625616
One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch. The switch includes a first port configured to receive Transparent Interconnection of Lots of Links (TRILL) traffic; a second port configured to receive Fiber Channel (FC) traffic; and a third port configured to transmit received TRILL or FC traffic based on a Fiber Channel over IP (FCIP) protocol.
Multi-path switching with edge-to-edge flow control
Granted: January 7, 2014
Patent Number:
8625427
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates flow control of multi-path-switched data frames. During operation the system transmits from an ingress edge device data frames destined to an egress edge device across different switched paths based on queue status of a core switching device and queue status of the egress edge device. The egress edge device is separate from the core switching device.
Network security and applications to the fabric environment
Granted: December 31, 2013
Patent Number:
8621567
A method and apparatus for securing networks, focusing on application in Fibre Channel networks. A combination of unique security techniques are combined to provide overall network security. Responsibility for security in the network is assigned to one or more designated entities. The designated entities deploy management information throughout the network to enhance security by modifying the capabilities and operational permissions of the devices participating in the network. For…
Transit switches in a network of logical switches
Granted: December 3, 2013
Patent Number:
8599864
A Layer 2 network switch is partitionable into a plurality of switch fabrics. The single-chassis switch is partitionable into a plurality of logical switches, each associated with one of the virtual fabrics. The logical switches behave as complete and self-contained switches. A logical switch fabric can span multiple single-chassis switch chassis. Logical switches are connected by inter-switch links that can be either dedicated single-chassis links or logical links. An extended…
Provisioning single or multistage networks using ethernet service instances (ESIs)
Granted: December 3, 2013
Patent Number:
8599850
Techniques for provisioning single or multistage networks using Ethernet Service Instances (ESIs). In one embodiment, an ESI is a logical entity or object that stores information that may be used to provision a network. An ESI may represent a logical entity that identifies a grouping of elements of a network or network device and associated attributes. Hierarchical relationships may be created between ESIs. The hierarchical relationships are used to perform packet-level processing…
Caching remote switch information in a fibre channel switch
Granted: December 3, 2013
Patent Number:
8599847
A network of switches with a distributed name server configuration and caching of remote node device information is disclosed. The network preferably comprises a first switch coupled to a second switch. Each of the switches directly couple to respective node devices. The first switch maintains a name server database about its local node devices, as does the second switch. The second switch further maintains a information cache about remote node devices. The name server preferably…
Manageability tools for lossless networks
Granted: December 3, 2013
Patent Number:
8599691
Manageability tools are provided for allowing an administrator to have better control over switches in a lossless network of switches. These tools provide the ability to detect slow drain and congestion bottlenecks, detect stuck virtual channels and loss of credits, while hold times on edge ASICs to be different from hold times on core ASICs, and mitigate severe latency bottlenecks.
Method and system for traffic management
Granted: November 26, 2013
Patent Number:
8593964
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates traffic management in a network. During operation, the system detects a bottleneck in a network based on network-state information received from one or more switches. The system further identifies a data flow that contributes to the bottleneck and generates a signal to reduce the data flow from the data flow's source device.
Network architecture with distribution of packet services to various switches
Granted: November 26, 2013
Patent Number:
8594079
Virtual machine environments are provided in the switches that form a network, with the virtual machines executing network services previously performed by dedicated appliances. The virtual machines can be executed on a single multi-core processor in combination with normal switch functions or on dedicated services processor boards. Packet processors analyze incoming packets and add a services tag containing services entries to any packets. Each switch reviews the services tag and…
System and method for providing network route redundancy across layer 2 devices
Granted: November 26, 2013
Patent Number:
8593987
Systems and methods are described for providing network route redundancy through Layer 2 devices, such as a loop free Layer 2 network having a plurality of switching devices. A virtual switch is coupled to the loop free Layer 2 network, the virtual switch having two or more switches configured to transition between master and backup modes to provide redundant support for the loop free Layer 2 network, the switches communicating their status through use of a plurality of redundancy…
