Patent ID: 9166869
Filing Date: 2015-10-20
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A system, comprising: a plurality of switches in a cluster enabled to operate under an Ethernet distributed fabric switching protocol (E-DFP), wherein a management function of each switch in the cluster is organized into a management plane; wherein the management function includes a telnet protocol to provide a bidirectional interactive text-oriented communication facility; and a server coupled to the cluster, the server configured to include a virtualized form of the management plane controlled by a controller in the server operating under the E-DFP, wherein the virtualized form of the management plane provides at least one of: metering and pricing that provides cost tracking as resources are utilized; a user portal; service level management that insures required service levels are met; and service level agreement planning and fulfillment that anticipates future requirements in accordance with a service level agreement.