Technologies for connecting data cables in a data center are disclosed. In the illustrative embodiment, racks of the data center are grouped into different zones based on the distance from the racks in a given zone to a network switch. All of the racks in a given zone are connected to the network switch using data cables of the same length. In some embodiments, certain physical resources such as storage may be placed in racks that are in zones closer to the network switch and therefore use shorter data cables with lower latency. An orchestrator server may, in some embodiments, schedule workloads or create virtual servers based on the different zones and corresponding latency of different physical resources.

Embodiments are generally directed apparatuses, methods, techniques and so forth to select two or more processing units of the plurality of processing units to process a workload, and configure a circuit switch to link the two or more processing units to process the workload, the two or more processing units each linked to each other via paths of communication and the circuit switch.

In some examples, a switching system includes a plurality of fabric endpoints and a multi-stage switching fabric having a plurality of fabric planes each having a plurality of stages to switch data units between any of the plurality of fabric endpoints. A fabric endpoint of the fabric endpoints is configured to send, to a switch of a first one of the stages and within a first fabric plane of the plurality of fabric planes, a self-ping message destined for the fabric endpoint. The fabric endpoint is configured to send, in response to determining the fabric endpoint has not received the self-ping message after a predetermined time, an indication of a connectivity fault for the first fabric plane.

A packet processing device includes a memory, and circuitry coupled the memory and configured to perform: sampling received packets at a predetermined interval, detecting a plurality of bursts in which received packets are continuously detected by the sampling, calculating, for each of the plurality of bursts detected, a front edge period based on the received packet detected first among the bursts, calculating, for each of the plurality of bursts detected, a rear edge period based on the received packet detected last among the bursts, deciding the longer period between the front edge period and the rear edge period as a burst period, and controlling transfer of the received packets based on the decided burst period.

Service deployment in the conventional network is very complicated. Operator needs to plan the service path in advance, and then manually configure the policy for each node on the service path. The software-definable network service configuration method disclosed in the present invention is different from the conventional network. On the one hand, the control layer has a global network resource view to more easily plan service paths for service requests. On the other hand, the control layer adopts a centralized management of physical switch nodes in the data layer via a southbound interface, which makes it easier to automatically implement policy configuration in physical switch nodes.

An apparatus such as a network switch includes a power supply device configured to control power supplied through ports such as Ethernet ports to the network devices such as wireless access portions that are part of a local network. The apparatus further includes a second power supply device with one or more switched outlets for providing direct power other devices of the local network. A controller in the apparatus may be programmed to control the power supply devices to execute to a diagnostic procedure or a reset procedure that cycles power, off and then on, to devices of the local network.

One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch system. The switch includes a port that couples to a server hosting a number of virtual machines. The switch also includes a link tracking module. During operation, the link tracking module determines that reachability to at least one end host coupled to a virtual cluster switch of which the switch is a member is disrupted. The link tracking module then determines that at least one virtual machine coupled to the port is affected by the disrupted reachability, and communicates to the server hosting the affected virtual machine about the disrupted reachability.

A network switch includes a plurality of ports each connected to a network or a terminal. The network switch performs routing between the plurality of ports. A control device is apart from the network switch. The control device controls the network switch. The network switch includes a command storage unit. The command storage unit stores a plurality of commands acquired from the control device for physical devices.

Embodiments are generally directed apparatuses, methods, techniques and so forth determine an access level of operation based on an indication received via one or more network links from a pod management controller, and enable or disable a firmware update capability for a firmware device based on the access level of operation, the firmware update capability to change firmware for the firmware device. Embodiments may also include determining one or more configuration settings of a plurality of configuration settings to enable for configuration based on the access level of operation, and enable configuration of the one or more configuration settings.

One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch system. The switch includes a port that couples to a server hosting a number of virtual machines. The switch also includes a link tracking module. During operation, the link tracking module determines that reachability to at least one end host coupled to a virtual cluster switch of which the switch is a member is disrupted. The link tracking module then determines that at least one virtual machine coupled to the port is affected by the disrupted reachability, and communicates to the server hosting the affected virtual machine about the disrupted reachability.