Framework for universally specified affinity topologies with partial path invalidation and generalized network flows

A method for setting up forwarding tables in a switching node based on real-time network states, the switching node having a switch, the method comprising:

• receiving a universally specified affinity topology (USAT) part specific to the switching node, the USAT part including a definition for at least one glow and a fabric graph part list (FGPL), the FGPL being an ordered list of at least one fabric graph part (FGP),
• wherein each glow describes at least two flows of network traffic and role_instructions for the switching node when handling each flow of the at least two flows, and
• wherein each FGP describes:
• a role that the switching node is to perform in the FGP;
• a validity rule for the FGP;
• and
• a description of a portion of a network topology relevant to the switching node;
• determining a selected active FGP in the FGPL based on the validity rule for the associated FGP, a current network state and the order of the FGPs in the FGPL;
• initializing the at least one glow;
• identifying which role that the switching node is to perform based on the selected active FGP in the FGPL;
• determining the role instructions for the identified role;
• storing at least one entry in a plurality of software tables based on the definition for the at least one glow and the role instructions for the identified role;
• dynamically resolving conflicts among entries, and
• granting table updates to hardware tables.

A method for setting up forwarding tables in a switching node, the switching node having a switch, the method comprising:

• receiving a universally specified affinity topology (USAT) part specific to the switching node, the USAT part including a definition for at least one glow and a fabric graph part list (FGPL), the FGPL being an ordered list of at least one fabric graph part (FGP),
• wherein each glow describes at least two flows of network traffic and role instructions for the switching node when handling each flow in the at least two flows, and
• wherein each FGP describes a role that the switching node is to perform in the FGP;
• a validity rule for the FGP;
• and a description of a portion of a network topology relevant to the switching node;
• managing the FGPL in a fabric graph management system (FGMS);
• managing the at least one glow in a glow management system (GMS);
• and
• managing a plurality of tables using a table management systems (TMS), the plurality of tables including a software table for each hardware memory that is pertinent to packet forwarding in the switch,
• wherein managing the FGPL, managing the at least one glow and managing the plurality of tables include:
• in the FGMS:
• determining a selected active FGP in the FGPL based on the validity rule for the associated FGP, a current network state and the order of the FGPs in the FGPL,
• in the GMS:
• initializing the at least one glow, requesting the FGMS to identify which role to perform based on the selected active FGP in the FGPL, determining the role instructions for the identified role and instructing the TMS to update the plurality of tables, and
• in the TMS:
• storing at least one entry in the plurality of tables based on the definition for the at least one glow and the role instructions for the identified role, dynamically resolving conflicts among entries, and granting table updates to hardware tables.