SOFTWARE-BASED FABRIC ENABLEMENT

摘要

A first fabric abstraction layer couples to a data link layer and a physical layer of a network fabric device. The network fabric device is connected to other network elements within a network via at least one network connection, such as a fiber optic connection. A second fabric abstraction layer couples to the data link layer and an application of the network device. The second fabric abstraction layer provides an application programming interface (API) to the application. The API allows the application to generate configuration instructions for configuring the at least one network connection. Upon receiving the configuration instructions generated by the application, the second abstraction layer sends the configuration instructions to the first abstraction layer via the data link layer. The first abstraction layer then configures the at least one network connection to transmit data according to the configuration instructions.

主权项

1. A method of configuring a networking fabric comprising network elements, comprising:
providing a first fabric abstraction layer coupled with a data link layer and a physical layer of a network fabric device that is connected to the network elements via at least one network connection; providing a second fabric abstraction layer coupled with the data link layer and an application of the network device; providing, by the second fabric abstraction layer, an application programming interface (API) that allows the application to generate configuration instructions for configuring the at least one network connection; receiving, by the second abstraction layer, the configuration instructions generated by the application; sending, by the second abstraction layer, the configuration instructions to the first abstraction layer via the data link layer; and configuring, by the first abstraction layer, the at least one network connection to transmit data according to the configuration instructions.