Fortinet, Inc.

Shenghe Wang

Michael Xie

Robert A May

Jordan E Thompson

Yong Wang

Xiaodong Xu

Xiadong Xu

Systems and methods for implementing a cooperative security fabric (CSF) protocol are provided. According to one embodiment, an NSD of multiple NSDs participates in the dynamic construction of a CSF interconnecting the NSDs in a form of a tree, having multiple nodes each representing one of the NSDs, based on hierarchical interconnections between the NSD and directly connected upstream and downstream NSDs. A communication channel is established by a backend daemon of the NSD with a directly connected upstream node of the NSD within the CSF through which queries and replies are communicated and through which periodic keep-alive messages and responses are exchanged between the upstream node and the NSD. A CSF protocol is enforced by a forward daemon of the NSD that limits issuance of query messages to those originated by a source NSD representing an upstream node and directed to a destination NSD representing a downstream node.

Building a cooperative security fabric of hierarchically interconnected network security devices

Systems and methods for implementing a cooperative security fabric (CSF) protocol are provided. According to one embodiment, a CSF of multiple network security devices (NSDs) deployed within a protected network is constructed in a form of a tree, having a root node, one or more intermediate nodes and one or more leaf nodes, based on hierarchical interconnections among the NSDs by determining a relative upstream or downstream relationship among each NSD. Backend daemons of the NSDs establish and maintain a bi-directional tunnel between each parent node within the CSF and its respective child nodes through which queries and replies are communicated and through which periodic keep-alive messages and responses are exchanged. Forward daemons of the NSDs enforce a CSF protocol that limits the issuance of query messages to those originated by an upstream node within the CSF and directed to a downstream node within the CSF.

Growing community of inventors

Surrey, Canada

Shenghe Wang