Nicira, Inc.

Alexander Yip

Teemu Koponen

Pankaj Thakkar

Martin Casado

W Andrew Lambeth

Amar Padmanabhan

Igor Ganichev

Natasha Gude

Timothy L Hinrichs

Jeremy Stribling

Anuprem Chalvadi

Ronghua Zhang

Keith Eric Amidon

Paul Ingram

Aayush Saxena

Alan Shieh

Some embodiments provide a method for a network controller that manages multiple managed forwarding elements (MFEs) that implement multiple logical networks. The method stores (i) a first data structure including an entry for each logical entity in a desired state of the multiple logical networks and (ii) a second data structure including an entry for each logical entity referred to by an update for at least one MFE. Upon receiving updates specifying modifications to the logical entities, the method adds separate updates to separate queues for the MFEs that require the update. The separate updates reference the logical entity entries in the second data structure. When the second data structure reaches a threshold size in comparison to the first data structure, the method compacts the updates in at least one of the queues so that each queue has no more than one update referencing a particular logical entity entry.

Management of update queues for network controller

Some embodiments provide a novel network control system that provides publications for managing different slices (e.g., logical and/or physical entities) of a network. The publications are published from publisher controllers in the network control system to subscriber controllers. The network control system uses publications with generation numbers and buffered subscribers to implement the fixed points in order to help maintain a consistent network state. Buffered subscribers buffer the inputs received from a publisher in case the publisher becomes unavailable. Rather than deleting all of the output state that is based on the published inputs, the buffered subscriber allows the subscriber to maintain the network state until an explicit change to the state is received at the subscriber from a publisher (e.g., a restarted publisher, a backup publisher, etc.).

Buffered subscriber tables for maintaining a consistent network state

Some embodiments provide a novel network control system that uses secondary input queues to receive and store inputs from multiple input sources prior to moving the inputs to a primary input queue for processing. The secondary input queues provide a separate storage for each input source so that the inputs from the different sources do not get mixed with each other to ensure that fixed points and barriers sent to the controller maintain their integrity.

Secondary input queues for maintaining a consistent network state

Some embodiments provide a novel network control system that provides publications for managing different slices (e.g., logical and/or physical entities) of a network. The publications are published from publisher controllers in the network control system to subscriber controllers. The network control system uses publications with generation numbers and buffered subscribers to implement the fixed points in order to help maintain a consistent network state. The information published with a publication is useful for resolving conflicts in the network control system when multiple publisher controllers provide conflicting inputs to a subscriber controller.

Implementing fixed points in network state updates using generation numbers

A network control system for generating physical control plane data for managing first and second managed forwarding elements that implement forwarding operations associated with a first logical datapath set is described. The system includes (1) a first controller for converting logical control plane data for the first logical datapath set to universal physical control plane (UPCP) data, (2) a second controller for converting UPCP data to customized physical control plane (CPCP) data for the first managed forwarding element but not the second managed forwarding element, and (3) a third controller for receiving UPCP data generated by the first controller instance, identifying the second controller as the controller instance responsible for generating the CPCP data for the first managed forward element, and supplying the received UPCP data to the second controller. Each controller includes a network information base (NIB) storage for exchanging data with another controller instance.

Chassis controllers for converting universal flows

Some embodiments provide a network control system for generating physical control plane data for managing first and second managed forwarding elements that implement forwarding operations associated with a first logical datapath set. The system includes a first controller instance for converting logical control plane data for the first logical datapath set to universal physical control plane (UPCP) data. The system includes a second controller instance for converting UPCP data to customized physical control plane (CPCP) data for the first managed forwarding element but not the second managed forwarding element. Each controller instance includes a network information base (NIB) storage for storing data and exchanging data with the other controller instance.

Physical controllers for converting universal flows

For a network that includes several managed edge switching elements and several managed non-edge switching elements that are for implementing a logical switching element, some embodiments provide a method of distributing packet processing across the several managed non-edge switching elements. The method receives a packet for processing through the logical switching element. Based on a determination that the packet needs to be processed by a managed non-edge switching element, the method determines a particular managed non-edge switching element of the several managed non-edge switching elements to forward the packet. The method forwards the packet to the particular managed non-edge switching element for the particular managed non-edge switching element to process the packet.

Method and apparatus for robust packet distribution among hierarchical managed switching elements

Some embodiments provide a method for managing several managed switching elements in a network. The method determines configurations for the several managed switching elements to implement a first logical data path set. Based on the determined configurations, the method configures a first set of the several managed switching elements to implement the first logical data path set. The method configures a second set of the several managed switching elements to implement a second logical data path set.

Hierarchical managed switch architecture

Some embodiments provide a controller for managing a plurality of managed switching elements that forward data through a network. The controller comprising a first set of tables for storing input logical control plane data, and a second set of tables for storing output logical forwarding plane data. It also includes a table mapping engine for mapping the input logical control plane data in the first set of tables to output logical forwarding plane data in the second set of tables by performing a set of database join operations on the input logical control plane data in the first set of tables. The logical forwarding plane data is subsequently translated into physical forwarding behaviors that direct the forwarding of data by the managed switching elements.

Network control apparatus and method with table mapping engine

Some embodiments provide a virtualizer for managing a plurality of managed switching elements that forward data through a network. The virtualizer comprises a first set of tables for storing input logical forwarding plane data and a second set of tables for storing output physical control plane data. It also includes a table mapping engine for mapping the input logical forwarding plane data in the first set of tables to output physical control plane data in the second set of tables by performing a set of database join operations on the input logical forwarding plane data in the first set of tables. In some embodiments, the physical control plane data is subsequently translated into physical forwarding behaviors that direct the forwarding of data by the managed switching elements.

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Menlo Park, CA, United States of America

Alexander Yip