This technology enables a dynamic host configuration protocol (“DHCP”) Layer 2 relay in a Virtual Extensible Local Area Network (“VXLAN”) overlay fabric. A host device broadcasts a configuration request, such as a DHCP discover, across an Ethernet virtual private network (“EVPN”) overlay fabric. The DHCP discover is intercepted by a VXLAN Tunnel End Point (“VTEP”) device with Layer 2 bridging functionality. The VTEP device selects a centralized gateway (“CGW”) device with Layer 3 relay functionality as a destination for the DHCP discover. The VTEP device encapsulates the DHCP discover with a unicast VXLAN header comprising the media access control (“MAC”) address of the CGW device and transmits the encapsulated DHCP discover to the CGW device, resolving the destination address associated with the broadcast. The CGW device transmits the DHCP discover to an Internet Protocol (“IP”) address associated with a DHCP server that is external to the EVPN overlay fabric.

In one embodiment, a computer network system, includes a plurality of mesh networks, each mesh network including at least three interconnected respective internal switches with each respective internal switch being connected to each other one of the respective internal switches via a respective internal network connection, and Clos topology network connections connecting the mesh networks in a Clos topology arrangement.

Many network protocols, including certain Ethernet protocols, include specifications for multiplexing using of virtual lanes. Due to skews and/or other uncertainties associated with the process, packets from virtual lanes may arrive at the receiver out of order. The present disclosure discusses implementations of receivers that may use multiplexer based crossbars, such as Clos networks, to reorder the lanes. State-based controllers for the Clos networks and state-based methods to assign routes in are also discussed.

Implementations of the present disclosure are directed to systems and methods for reducing the size of packet headers by using a single field to encode multiple elements. Instead of including separate fields for each element, one or more encoded fields may be used, each of which is decoded to determine two or more values for the data packet. A receiving device decodes the encoded data field to retrieve the two or more values.

Systems and methods for supporting a single logical IP subnet across multiple independent layer 2 subnets in a high performance computing environment. A method can provide, at a computer including one or more microprocessors, a logical device, the logical device being addressed by a layer 3 address, wherein the logical device comprises a plurality of network adapters, each of the network adapters comprising a physical port, and a plurality of switches. The method can arrange the plurality of switches into a plurality of discrete layer 2 subnets. The method can provide a mapping table at the logical device.

This technology enables a dynamic host configuration protocol (“DHCP”) Layer 2 relay in a Virtual Extensible Local Area Network (“VXLAN”) overlay fabric. A host device broadcasts a configuration request, such as a DHCP discover, across an Ethernet virtual private network (“EVPN”) overlay fabric. The DHCP discover is intercepted by a VXLAN Tunnel End Point (“VTEP”) device with Layer 2 bridging functionality. The VTEP device selects a centralized gateway (“CGW”) device with Layer 3 relay functionality as a destination for the DHCP discover. The VTEP device encapsulates the DHCP discover with a unicast VXLAN header comprising the media access control (“MAC”) address of the CGW device and transmits the encapsulated DHCP discover to the CGW device, resolving the destination address associated with the broadcast. The CGW device transmits the DHCP discover to an Internet Protocol (“IP”) address associated with a DHCP server that is external to the EVPN overlay fabric.

A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes creating a segment organization, which includes a configuration profile. The method also includes attaching the configuration profile to a server in the segment organization. The method further includes sending the attached configuration profile to a database in a physical network.

A source access network device multicasts copies of a packet to multiple core switches, for switching to a same target access network device. The core switches are selected for the multicast based on a load balancing algorithm managed by a central controller. The target access network device receives at least one of the copies of the packet and generates at least metric indicative of a level of traffic congestion at the core switches and feeds back information regarding the recorded at least one metric to the controller. The controller adjusts the load balancing algorithm based on the fed back information for selection of core switches for a subsequent data flow.

In one embodiment, a method comprises causing, by an apparatus, establishment of first and second multicast trees within one or more underlay switching fabrics of one or more fat tree topologies, the first and second multicast trees comprising first and second multicast roots for multicast transmission to leaf network devices in the respective first and second multicast trees; causing, by the apparatus, establishment of an overlay tunnel between the first and second multicast roots, the overlay tunnel independent and distinct from the first and second multicast trees; causing the first multicast root to multicast transmit, via the first multicast tree, a data packet having been transmitted to the first multicast root; and causing the first multicast root to unicast transmit the data packet to the second multicast root via the overlay tunnel, for multicast transmission of the data packet by the second multicast root via the second multicast tree.

A network device receives a fragmented packet of an internet protocol (IP) packet. The fragmented packet is subsequently received relative to an initial fragmented packet of the IP packet and includes a first set of tuple information. The network device determines an entry of a hash table associated with the IP packet, based on the first set of tuple information and a fragment identifier (ID) within the fragmented packet. The network device retrieves a second set of tuple information associated with the fragmented packet from the hash table entry, and transmits an indication of the first and second sets of tuple information.