SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EFFICIENT USE OF FLOW TABLE SPACE IN A NETWORK ENVIRONMENT

摘要

A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes determining an action to be performed with respect to a packet corresponding to a new flow received at a network device and determining whether a new entry comprising an indication of the determined action can be added to a flow table of the network device. The determination of whether a new entry can be added to the flow table is made with reference to reservation information specified in a port profile associated with the new flow. Responsive to a determination that the new entry can be added, the new entry is added to the flow table. In one embodiment, determining whether the new entry can be added comprises determining whether an existing entry can be aged out based on the reservation information specified in the associated port profile.