System and method for supporting scalable representation of switch port status in a high performance computing environment. In accordance with an embodiment, a scalable representation of switch port status can be provided. By adding a scalable representation of switch port status at each switch (both physical and virtual)instead of getting all switch port changes individually, the scalable representation of switch port status can combine a number of ports that can scale by just using a few bits of information for each port's status.

System and method for supporting a flexible framework for extendable SMA attributes in a high performance computing environment. In accordance with an embodiment, an information attribute can provide for enhancements in a number of areas. For example, in addition to indicating which version of an interface a queried node supports, the information attribute can additionally provide a mask indicating which vendor specific SMA attributes the node supports. In this way, a subnet manager can identify a version of an interface at each node in a subnet, as well as each node's SMA attribute capabilities. In turn, this allows nodes to run different versions of an interface within a same subnet, without introducing confusion.

Each of the n port switches set LAG to m links which respectively connect the port switch and m fabric switches. For example, the port switch performs a hashing operation for a frame received at a predetermined port and containing a layer 4 port number of an OSI reference model by using the port number, determines one link based on a result of the hashing operation from among the m links to which the LAG is set, and relays the frame to the one link.

A novel fabric switch is provided. The switch includes a tunnel management apparatus that maintains a local inter-switch tunnel and an inter-fabric tunnel. The local inter-switch tunnel facilitates communication to a switch in a local fabric switch. The inter-fabric tunnel facilitates communication to a remote fabric switch. The switch further includes a packet header management apparatus that decapsulates a packet received from the local inter-switch tunnel and encapsulates the packet with a new tunnel header for transmission over the inter-fabric tunnel.

One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch. The switch includes one or more ports, a switch group module, a persistent storage module, and a synchronization module. The switch group module maintains a membership in a switch group. The persistent storage module stores configuration information associated with the switch group in a data structure, which includes one or more columns for attribute values of the configuration information, in a local persistent storage. The synchronization module obtains update information, which includes a first set of attribute values, from a portable representation. The synchronization module identifies a software version of a second switch in the switch group and generates an update instruction to update the first data structure in a persistent storage in the second switch with target update information. The target update information comprises a second set of attribute values updated from the first set of attribute values.

One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch. The switch includes a virtual local area network (VLAN) configuration module. During operation, the VLAN configuration module maps local resources of the switch and/or locally coupled end device information to a global VLAN identifier, wherein the global VLAN is persistent across a fabric switch. The fabric switch is operable to accommodate a plurality of switches and operates as a single logical switch.

Implementations of the present disclosure involve an apparatus, device, component, and/or method for a hardware efficient flow to port affinity management table for link aggregation for a network fabric switch with Ethernet Gateway functionality. Rather than maintaining a state per traffic flow list, the present disclosure utilizes a handle or hash value derived from the traffic flow and associates an output port state to the hash value. The output port state for the hash value is further associated with a portlist that is based on at least a traffic flow policy of the server or group of servers associated with the traffic flow. In addition, the management table may be adjusted based on state changes to one or more of the output ports such that, if a port becomes unavailable, the management table may be adjusted to account for the unavailability of the port.

Techniques are provided for updating routing tables of switch devices. At a first switch device of a first rack unit in a network, information is received about addresses of host devices in the network. The addresses are stored in a software cache. A packet is received from a first host device assigned to a first subnet and housed in the first rack unit. The packet is destined for a second host device assigned to a second subnet and housed in a second rack unit in the network. The packet is forwarded using the subnet entry and it may remain sub-optimal during a period before which an entry can be installed form a software cache. The software cache is evaluated to determine the address of the second host device. The packet is then forwarded optimally. This will ensure any-to-any communications in the network initially sub-optimally and subsequently optimally.

A network switch comprises a primary port, coupled to a first network device through a primary link; a backup port, coupled to a second network device through a backup link; a processing unit, configured to execute a program code; and a storage unit, coupled to the processing unit, configured to store the program code to indicate to the processing unit to execute a link recovery method for dual-homing. The link recovery method comprises receiving a plurality of first data packets via the backup port to obtain first packet information when the backup port is in a forwarding state; receiving a plurality of second data packets via the primary port to obtain second packet information in response to detecting an electrical signal from the primary link; comparing the second packet information with the first packet information to obtain a comparison result; and performing link change according to the comparison result.

A network switch comprises a primary port, coupled to a first network device through a primary link; a backup port, coupled to a second network device through a backup link; a processing unit, configured to execute a program code; and a storage unit, coupled to the processing unit, configured to store the program code to indicate to the processing unit to execute a link recovery method for dual-homing. The link recovery method comprises receiving a plurality of first data packets via the backup port to obtain first packet information when the backup port is in a forwarding state; receiving a plurality of second data packets via the primary port to obtain second packet information in response to detecting an electrical signal from the primary link; comparing the second packet information with the first packet information to obtain a comparison result; and performing link change according to the comparison result.