Patent ID: 8856384
Filing Date: 2014-10-07
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of controlling traffic in a network of switches using a controller, the method comprising: with the controller, receiving a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol request packet that is sent from an end host; based on network topology information associated with the network of switches, modifying the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol request packet with the controller, wherein the network is partitioned into subnetworks associated with respective address ranges and wherein the end host is associated with a given subnetwork; with the controller, identifying a server for fulfillment of the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol request packet; with the controller, identifying whether the server is associated with the given subnetwork based on the network topology information; in response to identifying that the server is associated with the given subnetwork, modifying an Ethernet address field of the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol request packet; and in response to identifying that the server is not associated with the given subnetwork, modifying an Internet Protocol address field of the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol request packet.