System and method for management of virtual sub-networks

摘要

A system and method for management of virtual sub-networks includes a network controller including a control unit and one or more ports coupled to the control unit. The network controller is configured to receive a first admit request from a network switching device on a first virtual sub-network, form a first admit response based on information associated with the first admit request, transmit the first admit response to the network switching device on the first virtual sub-network, form one or more first flow control messages including configuration information for coupling the network controller and the network switching device using a second virtual sub-network, transmit the one or more first flow control messages, transmit a first migrate message to the network switching device, and exchange management traffic with the network switching device using the second virtual sub-network.

主权项

1. A network controller comprising:
a controller unit; and one or more ports coupled to the control unit; the network controller configured to:
receive, from a first network switching device, an admit request on the one or more ports from the first network switching device on a network slice of a physical sub-network, wherein the admit request includes a request for access to a management slice of the physical sub-network and wherein the first network device comprises a slave or non-managing network switching device;form one or more flow control messages including configuration information for adding the first network switching device to the management slice;transmit, to one or more second network switching devices coupled between the network controller and the first network switching device, the one or more flow control messages on the one or more ports, wherein the one or more flow control messages update a portion of the management slice corresponding to the one or more second network switching devices to add the first network switching device to the management slice, and do not update any other portion of the management slice;transmit a migrate message on the one or more ports to the first network switching device, the migrate message instructing the first network switching device to exchange management traffic using the management slice of the physical sub-network; andexchange management traffic with the first network switching device using the management slice of the physical sub-network.