Patent ID: 8971334
Filing Date: 2015-03-03
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method implemented in a network node that functions as a controller for a domain in a split architecture network, the domain comprising a plurality of flow switches, where the plurality of flow switches implement a data plane for the split architecture network and the controller implements a control plane for the split architecture network that is remote from the data plane, the method to configure the plurality of flow switches to efficiently handle each type of broadcast packet in the domain of the split architecture network without flooding the domain with the broadcast packets to thereby reduce a number of broadcast packets forwarded within the domain, the method comprising the steps of: tracking a set of external ports for the domain, where each external port connects one of the plurality of flow switches to at least one device outside the domain; configuring each of the plurality of flow switches in the domain to forward a first broadcast packet to each flow switch having at least one external port in the set of external ports for the domain without flooding the domain with the first broadcast packet, based on a determination that the first broadcast packet is a self-generated broadcast packet; configuring each of the plurality of flow switches having at least one external port from the set of external ports for the domain to forward a received second broadcast packet to the controller of the domain without flooding the domain with the received second broadcast packet, based on a determination that the received second broadcast packet is a control broadcast packet; and configuring the plurality of flow switches in the domain to forward a received third broadcast packet to the set of external ports for the domain without flooding the domain with the received third broadcast packet, based on a determination that the received third broadcast packet is a data broadcast packet.