An elastic Internet Protocol (IP) address for hypervisor and virtual router management in a branch environment may be provided. First, an IP address may be assigned to a hypervisor associated with a virtual branch. Next, it may be determined that a virtual machine (VM) has been instantiated at the virtual branch. In response to determining that the VM has been instantiated at the virtual branch, the IP address may then be released. It may next be determined that the VM is in a failed state and then, in response to determining that the VM is in the failed state, the IP address may be reassigned to the hypervisor.

Connectors for a networking device may be provided. A networking device may comprise a first plurality of switch bars each comprising a first switch type arranged parallel to one another, a second plurality of switch bars each comprising a second switch type arranged parallel to one another, and a third plurality of switch bars each comprising a third switch type arranged parallel to one another. The first plurality of switch bars, the second plurality of switch bars, and the third plurality of switch bars may be arranged orthogonally. A first one of the first plurality of switch bars may be connected to a first one of the second plurality of switch bars via a retractable mechanical connector mechanism.

Connectors for a networking device may be provided. A networking device may comprise a first plurality of switch bars each comprising a first switch type arranged parallel to one another, a second plurality of switch bars each comprising a second switch type arranged parallel to one another, and a third plurality of switch bars each comprising a third switch type arranged parallel to one another. The first plurality of switch bars, the second plurality of switch bars, and the third plurality of switch bars may be arranged orthogonally. A first one of the first plurality of switch bars may be connected to a first one of the second plurality of switch bars via a retractable mechanical connector mechanism.

An improved protocol for data transfer between a request node and a home node of a data processing network that includes a number of devices coupled via an interconnect fabric is provided that minimizes the number of response messages transported through the interconnect fabric. When congestion is detected in the interconnect fabric, a home node sends a combined response to a write request from a request node. The response is delayed until a data buffer is available at the home node and home node has completed an associated coherence action. When the request node receives a combined response, the data to be written and the acknowledgment are coalesced in the data message.

An improved protocol for data transfer between a request node and a home node of a data processing network that includes a number of devices coupled via an interconnect fabric is provided that minimizes the number of response messages transported through the interconnect fabric. When congestion is detected in the interconnect fabric, a home node sends a combined response to a write request from a request node. The response is delayed until a data buffer is available at the home node and home node has completed an associated coherence action. When the request node receives a combined response, the data to be written and the acknowledgment are coalesced in the data message.

An embodiment is directed to switchover operations with a mobile virtualized network device in a mobile device. The mobile virtualized hardware switchover operations may be used to selectively and temporarily provide virtualized control-plane operations to the data-plane of a non-redundant network device undergoing an upgrade or a reboot of its control plane. A non-redundant network device may operate hitless, or near hitless, operation even when its control plane is unavailable.

An embodiment is directed to switchover operations with a mobile virtualized network device in a mobile device. The mobile virtualized hardware switchover operations may be used to selectively and temporarily provide virtualized control-plane operations to the data-plane of a non-redundant network device undergoing an upgrade or a reboot of its control plane. A non-redundant network device may operate hitless, or near hitless, operation even when its control plane is unavailable.

A Provider Edge (PE) node includes a plurality of ports including an inter-chassis port to a second PE node, a port connected to a root node, and one or more ports connected to leaf nodes, wherein the plurality of ports are in an Ethernet Tree (E-Tree), and wherein the root node is dual-homed to the PE node and the second PE node; switching circuitry configured to switch traffic between the plurality of ports; and circuitry configured to designate the inter-chassis port as one of a leaf node and a root node in the E-Tree instance, and manage a designation of the inter-chassis port based on a status of the port connected to the root node. The designation is changed in a data plane instead of in a control plane.

A computer program product and a network switch are provided. The network switch may include network ports, memory and a processor for processing program instructions to perform various operations. The computer program product may provide the program instructions for a network switch. The operations may include detecting a first neighbor network switch connection to a first port of the first network switch, accessing first neighbor network switch configuration data that is stored by the first network switch in association with the first port, and providing the configuration data that is stored in association with the first port of the first network switch to the first neighbor network switch over the first neighbor network switch connection to the first port. In one example, the configuration data is obtained from a second neighbor network switch that was previously connected to the first port prior to the first neighbor network switch.

A computer program product and a network switch are provided. The network switch may include network ports, memory and a processor for processing program instructions to perform various operations. The computer program product may provide the program instructions for a network switch. The operations may include detecting a first neighbor network switch connection to a first port of the first network switch, accessing first neighbor network switch configuration data that is stored by the first network switch in association with the first port, and providing the configuration data that is stored in association with the first port of the first network switch to the first neighbor network switch over the first neighbor network switch connection to the first port. In one example, the configuration data is obtained from a second neighbor network switch that was previously connected to the first port prior to the first neighbor network switch.