Systems and methods are disclosed for configuring a communications network. In disclosed embodiments, a set of permissible service link decompositions and a set of basic service links may be obtained for the communications network. A spanning subset of service links for the communications may be generated. Generation of the spanning subset may include selecting a decomposition of a first service link from a set of permissible service link decompositions; updating the set of permissible service link decompositions based on the selected decomposition; and updating the set of basic service links using the updated set of permissible service link decompositions. In some embodiments, obtaining the set of permissible service link decompositions can include generating a set of permissible service link decompositions by traversing decomposition graphs generated for each of the service links. In some embodiments, the communications network can be configured to satisfy network demands using the spanning subset.

Method, server, and system for data stream redirecting are provided. The method is applied to a service node and includes: redirecting a data stream based on a first global database, wherein the first global database includes at least one piece of destination address information and application identities corresponding to the at least one piece of destination address information; based on destination address information of data streams that traverse within a first preset period and application identities corresponding to the destination address information, determining variance information of the first global database; uploading the variance information to a central node; updating, by the central node, the first global database based on variance information uploaded by at least one service node, to generate a second global database; and acquiring the second global database from the central node and, based on the second global database, redirecting the data stream.

A mechanism is disclosed for implementing conditional commands carried by network data packets. A data flow including a data packet is received. The data packet includes a conditional command. A condition and a command are obtained from the conditional command. The mechanism determines that the condition is satisfied. Based on the determination that the condition is satisfied, the command is executed to alter handling of the data flow, alter handling of the data packet, or alter a context for the data flow.

A method used in a stacking/stackable switch unit includes: providing a plurality of signal ports of the stacking/stackable switch unit, the signal ports having at least one master/slave control port corresponding to at least one operation function of the stacking/stackable switch unit; during a boot-up procedure, automatically determining whether the stacking/stackable switch unit is a master or a slave according to at least one signal level of the at least one master/slave control port and/or content of at least one bit obtained from the at least one master/slave control port.

A method used in a stacking/stackable switch unit includes: providing a plurality of signal ports of the stacking/stackable switch unit, the signal ports having at least one master/slave control port corresponding to at least one operation function of the stacking/stackable switch unit; during a boot-up procedure, automatically determining whether the stacking/stackable switch unit is a master or a slave according to at least one signal level of the at least one master/slave control port and/or content of at least one bit obtained from the at least one master/slave control port.

Systems and methods are disclosed for configuring a communications network. In disclosed embodiments, a set of permissible service link decompositions and a set of basic service links may be obtained for the communications network. A spanning subset of service links for the communications may be generated. Generation of the spanning subset may include selecting a decomposition of a first service link from a set of permissible service link decompositions; updating the set of permissible service link decompositions based on the selected decomposition; and updating the set of basic service links using the updated set of permissible service link decompositions. In some embodiments, obtaining the set of permissible service link decompositions can include generating a set of permissible service link decompositions by traversing decomposition graphs generated for each of the service links. In some embodiments, the communications network can be configured to satisfy network demands using the spanning subset.

Some embodiments configure an edge forwarding element to perform service insertion operations to identify stateful services to perform for data messages received for forwarding by the edge forwarding element at multiple virtual interfaces of the edge forwarding element. The service insertion operation, in some embodiments, includes applying a set of service insertion rules. The service insertion rules (1) specify a set of criteria and a corresponding action to take for data messages matching the criteria and (2) are associated with a set of interfaces to which the service insertion rules are applied. In some embodiments, the action is specified using a universally unique identifier (UUID) that is then used as a matching criteria for a subsequent policy lookup that identifies a type of service insertion and a set of next hop data.

Systems and methods are disclosed for configuring a communications network. In disclosed embodiments, a set of permissible service link decompositions and a set of basic service links may be obtained for the communications network. A spanning subset of service links for the communications may be generated. Generation of the spanning subset may include selecting a decomposition of a first service link from a set of permissible service link decompositions; updating the set of permissible service link decompositions based on the selected decomposition; and updating the set of basic service links using the updated set of permissible service link decompositions. In some embodiments, obtaining the set of permissible service link decompositions can include generating a set of permissible service link decompositions by traversing decomposition graphs generated for each of the service links. In some embodiments, the communications network can be configured to satisfy network demands using the spanning subset.

A method used in a stacking/stackable switch unit includes: providing a plurality of signal ports of the stacking/stackable switch unit, the signal ports having at least one master/slave control port corresponding to at least one operation function of the stacking/stackable switch unit; during a boot-up procedure, automatically determining whether the stacking/stackable switch unit is a master or a slave according to at least one signal level of the at least one master/slave control port and/or content of at least one bit obtained from the at least one master/slave control port.

Some embodiments provide stateful services in a chain of services identified for some data messages. The edge forwarding element receives a data message at a particular interface of the edge forwarding element that is traversing the edge forwarding element in a forward direction between two machines. The edge forwarding element identifies (1) a set of stateful services for the received data message and (2) a next hop associated with the identified set of stateful services in the forward direction and a next hop associated with the identified set of stateful services in the reverse direction. Based on the identified set of services and the next hops for the forward and reverse directions, the edge forwarding element generates and stores first and second connection tracking records for the forward and reverse data message flows, respectively used to forward data messages received subsequently for the flow.