METHODS OF OPERATING LOAD BALANCING SWITCHES AND CONTROLLERS USING MATCHING PATTERNS WITH UNRESTRICTED CHARACTERS

摘要

A load balancing system may include a switch coupled with a plurality of servers and a controller. A flow table may include default flow entries with each default flow entry including a different match pattern. At least one of the default flow entries may include a match pattern with an unrestricted character so that the match pattern having the unrestricted character is satisfied by a plurality of data flow identifications. Each of the default flow entries may include an action to be performed for data packets having data flow identifications that satisfy its match pattern. A data packet including a data flow identification for a data flow may be received from a client device. A default flow entry having a match pattern that is satisfied by the data flow identification is identified, and the data packet is processed in accordance with the action for the identified default flow entry.

主权项

1. A method of operating a switch coupled with a plurality of servers and a controller in a load balancing system, the method comprising:
providing a flow table including a plurality of default flow entries wherein each of the plurality of default flow entries includes a respective match pattern with each of the match patterns of the plurality of default flow entries being different and wherein at least one of the plurality of default flow entries includes a respective match pattern having at least one unrestricted character so that the match pattern having the unrestricted character is satisfied by a plurality of data flow identifications, and wherein each of the plurality of default flow entries includes an action to be performed for data packets having data flow identifications that satisfy the respective match pattern; receiving a data packet for a data flow from a client device wherein the data packet includes a data flow identification for the data flow; identifying a default flow entry of the plurality of default flow entries having a match pattern that is satisfied by the data flow identification; and processing the data packet for the data flow in accordance with the action for the default flow entry having the match pattern that is satisfied by the data flow identification.