Methods, systems, and storage mediums that can allow for automatic re-routing of network traffic in software-defined networks. In some examples, instructions can be provided to network switches in a software-defined network to initially route network traffic along a first flow route. The instructions can further instruct the network switches to automatically re-route the network traffic along a second flow route at a later time.

A method and an apparatus for controlling packet transmission and a network functions virtualization (NFV) system, where the method includes determining, by a control device, at least two target service processing units and at least one associated service processing unit, where packets of a target service need to be transmitted to the at least two target service processing units through the at least one associated service processing unit, a first target service processing unit in the at least two target service processing units is configured to perform, on packets of the target service, service processing corresponding to a first software version, and a second target service processing unit in the at least two target service processing units is configured to perform, on packets of the target service, service processing corresponding to a second software version; and sending first control information according to a preset first threshold.

In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a memory, a hardware processor, and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor. The logic is configured to receive one or more software defined network (SDN) routes dictating a path through a network comprising a plurality of devices. The logic is also configured to store the one or more SDN routes to the memory along with one or more traditional routes learned by the apparatus and/or configured by an administrator, and indicate the one or more SDN routes as being of a type different from the traditional routes. Moreover, the logic is configured to receive a priority ordering for a plurality of routes stored in the memory from the SDN controller, the plurality of routes including at least one SDN route, and construct a route information base (RIB) based on the plurality of routes and the priority ordering.

A system includes a software-defined wide area network having a software-defined wide area network control plane and a software-defined wide area network user plane; wherein the wide area network control plane is configured to operate in a first network and the wide area network user plane is configured to operate in a second network and further configured to communicate with the wide area network control plane, a serving gateway user plane in communication with the software-defined wide area network user plane, wherein the serving gateway user plane is configured to operate in the second network and further configured to communicate wirelessly with a device, and wherein the wide area network user plane is configured to route a communication between the device and a destination.

Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for managing network switching. A network device operating system (ndOS) program includes instructions for exchanging switching policy regarding switching network packets in a plurality of ndOS devices having ndOS programs. The first ndOS program is executed in a first ndOS device, and the switching policy is exchanged with other ndOS programs via multicast messages. Further, the ndOS program includes instructions for exchanging resource control messages with the other ndOS devices to implement service level agreements in the switching fabric, where the ndOS switching devices cooperate to enforce the service level agreements. Further yet, the ndOS program includes instructions for receiving changes to the switching policy, and instructions for propagating the received changes to the switching policy via message exchange between the ndOS programs. The ndOS devices are managed as a single logical switch that spans the plurality of ndOS devices.

Methods, systems, and computer readable media for implementing a policy for a router are disclosed. One method includes providing a meta administrator interface configured to facilitate the specification of one or more rules that form a policy definition. The method further includes automatically generating, based on the policy definition, an administrator interface for inputting rule data associated with the policy definition. Even further, the method includes storing the input rule data in one or more data structures associated with a router.

Example methods and systems for failure handling for service chaining with service path monitoring. One example may comprise a first computer system detecting a data packet that is being forwarded along a first service path. The first computer system may configure a liveness check query and send the liveness check query along with the data packet towards a service virtualized computing instance to cause a liveness check response. In response to detecting the liveness check response from the service virtualized computing instance, the first computer system may determine that the service virtualized computing instance is available. Otherwise, report information may be generated and sent to trigger a switch from the first service path to a second service path that excludes the service virtualized computing instance.

Embodiments disclosed include a method and apparatus for global traffic control and optimization for software-defined networks. In an embodiment, data traffic is optimized by distributing predefined metrics (data traffic information) to all controllers in the network. The predefined metrics are specific to local network switches and controllers, but are distributed to all peers at configurable intervals. “Local” as used herein implies one POP and its associated switch and controller. The method of distribution of local POP metrics is strictly in band using a packet as defined by the protocol used by the data network.

Network controllers are described that enable creation of logical interconnects between logical routers of different, isolated virtual networks and for auto-generation and deployment of routing policies to control “leaking” of select routes amongst the different virtual networks. In one example, a network controller includes a memory and processing circuitry configured to identify a source logical router of a first virtual network and a destination logical router of a second virtual network implemented on one or more physical devices of a switch fabric, form a policy defining one or more rules for controlling leaking of one or more of the routes through a logical router interconnect from the source logical router to the destination logical router, and push the policy to the one or more physical devices of the switch fabric for application to communications through the logical router interconnect.

Virtual machine environments are provided in the switches that form a network, with the virtual machines executing network services previously performed by dedicated appliances. The virtual machines can be executed on a single multi-core processor in combination with normal switch functions or on dedicated services processor boards. Packet processors analyze incoming packets and add a services tag containing services entries to any packets. Each switch reviews the services tag and performs any network services resident on that switch. This allows services to be deployed at the optimal locations in the network. The network services may be deployed by use of drag and drop operations. A topology view is presented, along with network services that may be deployed. Services may be selected and dragged to a single switch or multiple switches. The management tool deploys the network services software, with virtual machines being instantiated on the switches as needed.