A topology-based virtual switching model with pluggable flow management protocols

Abstract

The disclosure relates to technology for supporting multiple flow management protocols in a virtual network switch and changing a flow management protocol without changing switch topology configurations at run time. A data plane provider is detected via a pluggable software module (or plugin or plugin module) that identifies and controls the data plane provider with network interfaces and enablesflow management protocols. A switch topology is then constructed by creating a virtual switch object, adding ports to the virtual switch object. A datapath is then created using the switch topology and the first flow management protocol on the data plane provider. Network interfaces are connect to each ports respectively to enable communication among the entities attached to each network interfaceaccording to the first flow management protocol. The datapath can be later changed to use the second flow management protocol and retain the same topology at run time.

Description

[0001] This application claims a prior application to U.S. Nonprovisional Patent Application No. 15 / 077,461, filed March 22, 2016, entitled "A Topology-Based Virtual Switching Model With Pluggable Flow Management Protocol" Priority, the content of this earlier application is incorporated herein by reference. Background technique [0002] A network switch is a hardware device used to make data connections between devices. A switch can be used to receive, process and forward data packets to their intended destination according to a specific flow management protocol (or known as a data forwarding protocol). Furthermore, a network switch can have two planes: a control plane and a data plane. The control plane is the part of the system responsible for providing the stream management protocol functions and features of the system. The data plane is responsible for actually receiving data from the port connecting the switch with the external source, processing the data, and sending ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

In many cases, different virtual switch implementations with different protocols from different vendors can be applied to a single system, making the task of switch configuration complex or even impossible

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