Apparatus and method for controlling virtual switches

摘要

An apparatus includes a controller, a converter, and table information storing physical identification information identifying a physical port of first and second physical switches in association with virtual identification information identifying a virtual port of a virtual switch. For each virtual switch, the controller outputs control information determined based on a predetermined protocol and manages the received control information. The converter, based on the table information, converts the physical identification information added to the received control information and identifying a physical port via which the first physical switch has received the control information, into the associated virtual identification information, converts the virtual identification information added to the control information outputted from the controller and identifying a virtual port via which the control information is to be transmitted, into the associated physical identification information, and relays the control information between the controller and the second physical switch.

主权项

1. An apparatus for controlling virtual switches, the apparatus comprising:
a memory configured to store first table information in which physical port identification information identifying a physical port of a plurality of physical switches is stored in association with virtual port identification information identifying a virtual port of a plurality of virtual switches so that each of the plurality of virtual switches is defined as a set of virtual ports each associated with one of physical ports of the plurality of physical switches; a plurality of controllers each assigned to a different one of the plurality of virtual switches and configured to perform, on the assigned virtual switch, a control process that outputs control information determined based on a predetermined protocol and manages the control information that has been received from a physical switch; and a converter configured to:
perform, on the control information received from a physical switch, a first conversion process converting physical port identification information that is added to the received control information and identifies a physical port via which the first switch has received the control information, into the virtual port identification information identifying a virtual port of a virtual switch on which the control process is to be performed, based on the first table information stored in the memory,perform, on the control information outputted from a controller, a second conversion process converting virtual port identification information that is added to the control information outputted from the controller and identifies a virtual port of a virtual switch associated with the controller, into the associated physical port identification information identifying a physical port of a physical switch from which the control information is to be transmitted, based on the first table information stored in the memory, andrelay the converted control information between the plurality of controllers or between a controller and a physical switch, based on the first table information, and based on the physical and virtual port identification information added to the control information.