Nicira, Inc.

Cisco Technology, Inc.

Paul Fazzone

Teemu Koponen

Pankaj Thakkar

Michael R Smith

Igor Ganichev

Daniel J Wendlandt

Martin Casado

W Andrew Lambeth

Mark Alan Bakke

Keith Eric Amidon

Anusankar Elangovan

Paul Ingram

Saravanakumar Rajendran

Paul Harry Gleichauf

Shriram Velaga

Some embodiments provide a method for a network controller that manages several managed forwarding elements. The method receives a request to trace a specified packet having a particular source on a logical switching element. The method generates the packet at the network controller according to the packet specification. The generated packet includes an indicator that the packet is for a trace operation. The method inserts the packet into a managed forwarding element associated with the particular source. The method receives a set of messages from a set of managed forwarding elements that process the packet regarding operations performed on the packet.

Tracing logical network packets through physical network

Some embodiments provide a network system that includes a first network and a second network. The first network includes several unmanaged switching elements. The second network includes several managed switching elements. The network system includes a particular managed switching element for communicating network data between the first and second networks.

Managed switching elements used as extenders

In one embodiment, an apparatus configured for communication with a plurality of virtual machines includes a virtual switch in communication with one or more of the virtual machines, an interface in communication with one or more of the virtual machines and configured for communication with a hardware implemented switch, and a mode selector for assigning to each of the virtual machines, a mode of operation for forwarding data from the virtual machine and switching the assigned mode of operation at one or more of the virtual machines. The mode of operation is selected from a first mode wherein the data is forwarded by the hardware implemented switch and a second mode wherein the data is forwarded by the virtual switch.

Traffic forwarding for virtual machines

In a virtual infrastructure, a single appliance is provided that hosts a centralized virtual machine monitor (VMM) control plane to effectively establish a single virtual switch across all virtual machines within one or more clusters of servers, thereby reducing the number of management points for the network administrator and facilitating easier VM migration.

Centralized control plane appliance for virtual infrastructure

Growing community of inventors

San Jose, CA, United States of America

Paul Fazzone