US 10,484,515 B2 · Implementing logical metadata proxy servers in logical networks

Abstract

Some embodiments provide a method for providing metadata proxy services to different data compute nodes that are associated with different logical networks (e.g., for different tenants of a datacenter). When a data compute node (DCN) is instantiated (i.e., starts executing) in a host machine, the DCN requests for metadata associated with the DCN from a metadata server. The requested metadata includes identification and configuration data (e.g., name and description, amount of virtual memory, number of allocated virtual CPUs, etc.) for the DCN. Each DCN generates and sends out a metadata request packet after an IP address is assigned to the DCN (e.g., by a DHCP server). In some embodiments, a metadata proxy server (1) receives the metadata request packets that are sent by different DCNs associated with different logical networks, (2) adds logical network identification data to the packets, and (3) forwards the packets to a metadata server.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for enabling a metadata proxy server to provide metadata proxy services for a plurality of logical networks, the method comprising:

at a managed forwarding element (MFE) that executes on a same host computer as the metadata proxy server,
receiving a first packet sent from a first data compute node (DCN) of a first logical network requesting metadata for the first DCN, said first packet comprising a particular layer four destination port number;
receiving a second packet sent from a second DCN of a second logical network requesting metadata for the second DCN, said second packet comprising the same particular layer four destination port number;
replacing (i) the particular destination port number in the first packet with a first port number that corresponds to a first port of the metadata proxy server that is associated with the first logical network and (ii) the particular destination port number in the second packet with a second different port number that corresponds to a second port of the metadata proxy server that is associated with the second logical network;
and
forwarding the first and second packets with their replaced port numbers to the metadata proxy server on the host computer for the metadata proxy server to provide metadata for the first DCN through the first port number and provide metadata for the second DCN through the second port number.

3 more elements

A non-transitory machine readable medium storing a managed forwarding element (MFE) which when executed by at least one processing unit of a host computer enables a metadata proxy server to provide metadata proxy services for a plurality of logical networks, the MFE comprising sets of instructions for:

receiving a first packet sent from a first data compute node (DCN) of a first logical network requesting metadata for the first DCN, said first packet comprising a particular layer four destination port number;
receiving a second packet sent from a second DCN of a second logical network requesting metadata for the second DCN, said second packet comprising the same particular layer four destination port number;
replacing (i) the particular destination port number in the first packet with a first port number that corresponds to a first port of the metadata proxy server that is associated with the first logical network and (ii) the particular destination port number in the second packet with a second different port number that corresponds to a second port of the metadata proxy server that is associated with the second logical network;
and
forwarding the first and second packets with their replaced port numbers to the metadata proxy server on the host computer for the metadata proxy server to provide metadata for the first DCN through the first port number and provide metadata for the second DCN through the second port number.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Implementing logical metadata proxy servers in logical networks

Life of this patent

Implementing logical metadata proxy servers in logical networks

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20