A switch may operate in a cut-through mode and a store-and-forward mode. While in a default cut-through mode, the switch continuously monitors ports for certain health metrics. If those health metrics fall below a threshold, the switch changes to operate in a store-and-forward mode, either for a predetermined period of time or until the health metrics rise above a threshold, at which point the switch can resume cut-through mode operations. If health metrics fall below an even lower threshold, or remain below threshold for a predefined period of time, the switch can automatically alert a remote system or software process.

Some embodiments provide a novel method for deploying different virtual networks over several public cloud datacenters for different entities. For each entity, the method (1) identifies a set of public cloud datacenters of one or more public cloud providers to connect a set of machines of the entity, (2) deploys managed forwarding nodes (MFNs) for the entity in the identified set of public cloud datacenters, and then (3) configures the MFNs to implement a virtual network that connects the entity's set of machines across its identified set of public cloud datacenters. In some embodiments, the method identifies the set of public cloud datacenters for an entity by receiving input from the entity's network administrator. In some embodiments, this input specifies the public cloud providers to use and/or the public cloud regions in which the virtual network should be defined. Conjunctively, or alternatively, this input in some embodiments specifies actual public cloud datacenters to use.

Some embodiments provide a method for implementing a logical network across multiple datacenters. The method receives a configuration for a logical router that handles data traffic between the logical network implemented in the plurality of datacenters and networks external to the logical network. The method, for each datacenter defines (i) an active centralized routing component of the logical router in the datacenter and (ii) a standby centralized routing component of the logical router in the datacenter. The centralized routing components for a particular datacenter handle the data traffic between the logical network in the particular datacenter and the external networks. The active and standby centralized routing components are each assigned to edge computing devices in the datacenter that implement the centralized routing components.

Some embodiments provide novel methods for performing services for machines operating in one or more datacenters. For instance, for a group of related guest machines (e.g., a group of tenant machines), some embodiments define two different forwarding planes: (1) a guest forwarding plane and (2) a service forwarding plane. The guest forwarding plane connects to the machines in the group and performs L2 and/or L3 forwarding for these machines. The service forwarding plane (1) connects to the service nodes that perform services on data messages sent to and from these machines, and (2) forwards these data messages to the service nodes. In some embodiments, the guest machines do not connect directly with the service forwarding plane. For instance, in some embodiments, each forwarding plane connects to a machine or service node through a port that receives data messages from, or supplies data messages to, the machine or service node. In such embodiments, the service forwarding plane does not have a port that directly receives data messages from, or supplies data messages to, any guest machine. Instead, in some such embodiments, data associated with a guest machine is routed to a port proxy module executing on the same host computer, and this other module has a service plane port. This port proxy module in some embodiments indirectly can connect more than one guest machine on the same host to the service plane (i.e., can serve as the port proxy module for more than one guest machine on the same host).

An ultra-high speed electronic communications device includes: a network communications interface; a memory; and one or more processing units, communicatively coupled to the memory and the network communications interface, wherein the memory stores instructions configured to cause the one or more processing units to: receive a data packet using the network communications interface; determine a classification of the data packet based, at least in part, on a plurality of factors, wherein the plurality of factors comprises a rate at which the data packet was received and a time at which the data packet was received; select, based at least in part, on the classification, an operation from a plurality of operations, wherein the plurality of operations comprises a cut-through operation and a store-and-forward operation; and perform the selected operation.

A memory of a network device is divided into first blocks, each first block being divided into second blocks, and each second block including a first storage space and second storage space. When a packet is stored, second blocks occupied by the packet are determined based on a packet length and a first storage space length, and the packet is stored into a first storage space of each of the second blocks. For each of the second blocks, a PD corresponding to the second block is generated, and stored into a second storage space of the second block. When a packet is read, the second blocks to be read are determined based on a start address of the packet. A packet fragment is read from a first storage space of the second blocks to be read, and the read packet segments are composed into the second packet to be sent.

Methods and apparatus for controlling monitoring operations performed by various devices, e.g., access points, in a communications network and for using information obtained by the devices which perform the monitoring are described. The methods are well suited for use in a system with a variety of access points, e.g., wireless and/or wired access points, which can be used to obtain access to the Internet or another network. An access point, which has been configured to monitor in accordance with received monitoring configuration information, e.g. on a per access point interface basis, captures packets, stores captured packets, and monitors to detect communications failures corresponding to communications devices using said access point. In response to detecting a communications failure, the access point generates, an event failure notification indicating the type of detected failure and sends the event failure notification to the network monitoring node along with corresponding captured packets.

Some embodiments provide novel methods for performing services for machines operating in one or more datacenters. For instance, for a group of related guest machines (e.g., a group of tenant machines), some embodiments define two different forwarding planes: (1) a guest forwarding plane and (2) a service forwarding plane. The guest forwarding plane connects to the machines in the group and performs L2 and/or L3 forwarding for these machines. The service forwarding plane (1) connects to the service nodes that perform services on data messages sent to and from these machines, and (2) forwards these data messages to the service nodes. In some embodiments, the guest machines do not connect directly with the service forwarding plane. For instance, in some embodiments, each forwarding plane connects to a machine or service node through a port that receives data messages from, or supplies data messages to, the machine or service node. In such embodiments, the service forwarding plane does not have a port that directly receives data messages from, or supplies data messages to, any guest machine. Instead, in some such embodiments, data associated with a guest machine is routed to a port proxy module executing on the same host computer, and this other module has a service plane port. This port proxy module in some embodiments indirectly can connect more than one guest machine on the same host to the service plane (i.e., can serve as the port proxy module for more than one guest machine on the same host).

Example implementations described herein involve a system that manages a dispatch of data within an Internet of Things (IoT) system that can involve a first process for intaking new data and conducting one of dispatching the new data or queuing the new data; a second process executed at lower priority than the first process involving determining if queued data exceeds a retry count; forwarding the queued data to a third process if the retry count does not exceed the threshold; and popping the queued data into an error process if the queued data exceeds the retry count; and the third process executed after receiving the queued data from the second process, involving attempting to dispatch the queued data.

This application provides a downstream packet sending method, a downstream packet forwarding method, a downstream packet sending apparatus, and a downstream packet forwarding apparatus. The downstream packet sending method in this application includes: configuring a downstream forwarding path of a downstream packet for a terminal device; generating a source MAC address based on the downstream forwarding path, where the source MAC address is used to indicate the downstream forwarding path; and sending the downstream packet to a forwarding switch, where the downstream packet includes the source MAC address. This application can reduce costs, improve efficiency, and simplify network traffic.