An information processing apparatus is communicable with an electronic apparatus according to a plurality of protocols. The information processing apparatus includes circuitry. The circuitry identifies a particular protocol supported by the electronic apparatus among the plurality of protocols. The circuitry determines a management type based on the identified particular protocol. The circuitry sets a communication path through which the electronic apparatus communicates with a management apparatus based on the determined management type.

Techniques are described to provide for the ability to combine policies in a manner that utilized policy purposes to generate a combined policy. In one example, a method includes obtaining, at a network entity of a network, a plurality of policies, wherein each policy is associated with a policy purpose defined by a policy originator; combining the plurality of policies by the network entity to generate a combined policy, wherein the combining is performed based on a ranking of policy purposes; and enforcing the combined policy at one or more policy enforcement entities of the network for one or more packet flows communicated between a client and the network.

Techniques are described to provide for the ability to combine policies in a manner that utilized policy purposes to generate a combined policy. In one example, a method includes obtaining, at a network entity of a network, a plurality of policies, wherein each policy is associated with a policy purpose defined by a policy originator; combining the plurality of policies by the network entity to generate a combined policy, wherein the combining is performed based on a ranking of policy purposes; and enforcing the combined policy at one or more policy enforcement entities of the network for one or more packet flows communicated between a client and the network.

A packet forwarding method. In this method, a forwarding node receives a packet, obtains a target service resource status advertised by each service node in a plurality of service nodes, selects a target service node from the plurality of service nodes based on the target service resource status advertised by the service node, and forwards the packet to the target service node. In other words, the forwarding node can sense a service resource status advertised by the service node, and the service resource status can indicate a resource usage status of a service resource managed by the service node. An actual processing capability of the service node can be sensed based on the resource usage status.

A packet forwarding method. In this method, a forwarding node receives a packet, obtains a target service resource status advertised by each service node in a plurality of service nodes, selects a target service node from the plurality of service nodes based on the target service resource status advertised by the service node, and forwards the packet to the target service node. In other words, the forwarding node can sense a service resource status advertised by the service node, and the service resource status can indicate a resource usage status of a service resource managed by the service node. An actual processing capability of the service node can be sensed based on the resource usage status.

A method of defining priority of a number of data packets within a queue includes generating a policy. The policy defines a first multiplexed channel of a plurality of multiplexed channels. The first multiplexed channel having a first priority. The policy also defines a second multiplexed channel of the plurality of multiplexed channels. The second multiplexed channel having a second priority. The first priority is defined as being of a higher priority relative to the second priority. The method further includes receiving the number of data packets over the plurality of multiplexed channels associated with a session based at least in part on the policy.

A method is provided for operating a network switch comprising a plurality of input ports and a plurality of output ports. The method comprises receiving a first data packet received via a first input port and a second data packet received via a second input port to be delivered to an egress endpoint connected to a first output port, configuring a plurality of crossbar switch units arranged in a tiled architecture to pass the first data packet to the first output port via a primary path and pass the second data packet to the first output port via a secondary path, and transmitting the first data packet and the second data packet to the egress endpoint. The first data packet and the second data packet pass through the plurality of crossbar switch units simultaneously.

A method is provided for operating a network switch comprising a plurality of input ports and a plurality of output ports. The method comprises receiving a first data packet received via a first input port and a second data packet received via a second input port to be delivered to an egress endpoint connected to a first output port, configuring a plurality of crossbar switch units arranged in a tiled architecture to pass the first data packet to the first output port via a primary path and pass the second data packet to the first output port via a secondary path, and transmitting the first data packet and the second data packet to the egress endpoint. The first data packet and the second data packet pass through the plurality of crossbar switch units simultaneously.

Provided are a method and device for establishing a service path, an electronic apparatus, and a readable storage medium. The method includes: receiving request information for establishing a path for a service, where the request information includes a service type and a resource reservation scheme; computing a path for the service according to topology information of a FlexE link through which the service is transmitted and the request information; and reserving a resource and establishing a path for the service according to the service type and the resource reservation scheme, and a service type and a resource reservation scheme on a channel of the FlexE link through which the service is transmitted.

Techniques for using global virtual network instance (VNI) labels in a multi-domain network to route network data with a multi-tenant network overlay are described herein. A routing device provisioned in a network domain of the multi-domain network may register with a service discovery system of the network domain for use of network configuration data to establish routes through the multi-domain network with network nodes. Each network domain of the multi-domain network may include an application programming interface (API) server for processing API requests to make changes to configurations of a network domain. A border gateway protocol (BGP) large community may be utilized to encode global VNI labels, network addresses, local next hop nodes, and/or additional network information and sent to routing devices provisioned in separate network domains. A service chain may be signaled by global VNI labels to route network traffic through various services prior to reaching a destination endpoint.