Automatic classification of network devices in a network
AssigneeArista Networks, Inc.
InventorGuy Sirton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The automatic classification of network devices in a network. Specifically, the disclosure entails the designation of network device roles to network devices, as well as the clustering of network devices into logical groups. The association of network devices with network device roles and logical groups may be contingent on the connections between the network devices and a set of network device classification heuristics.
Claims20
A method for network classification, comprising:
- obtaining network topology information for a network, the network topology information comprising a plurality of nodes representing network devices, wherein the nodes are interconnected by a plurality of edges representing connections between pairs of the network devices;
- and
- assigning network device roles to at least a portion of the plurality of nodes based on at least a portion of the plurality of edges and a set of network device classification heuristics, wherein assigning the network device roles comprises:
- identifying a first set of the nodes as top-of-rack switch (TOR) candidates based on the edges connected to each of the nodes in the first set;
- identifying a second set of the nodes as server candidates based on the edges connected to each of the nodes in the second set;
- tagging a first portion of the TOR candidates as TORs based on the edges connected to each of the TOR candidates;
- tagging a portion of the server candidates as servers based on the edges connected to each of the server candidates.
A non-transitory computer readable medium (CRM) comprising computer readable program code, which when executed by a computer processor, enables the computer processor to perform a method for network classification, the method comprising:
- obtaining network topology information for a network, the network topology information comprising a plurality of nodes representing network devices, wherein the nodes are interconnected by a plurality of edges representing connections between pairs of the network devices;
- and
- assigning network device roles to at least a portion of the plurality of nodes based on at least a portion of the plurality of edges and a set of network device classification heuristics, wherein assigning the network device roles comprises:
- identifying a first set of the nodes as top-of-rack switch (TOR) candidates based on the edges connected to each of the nodes in the first set;
- identifying a second set of the nodes as server candidates based on the edges connected to each of the nodes in the second set;
- tagging a first portion of the TOR candidates as TORs based on the edges connected to each of the TOR candidates;
- tagging a portion of the server candidates as servers based on the edges connected to each of the server candidates.
A system, comprising:
- a network device operatively connected to a network, the network device configured to perform a method for network classification, the method comprising:
- obtaining network topology information for a network, the network topology information comprising a plurality of nodes representing network devices, wherein the nodes are interconnected by a plurality of edges representing connections between pairs of the network devices;
- and
- assigning network device roles to at least a portion of the plurality of nodes based on at least a portion of the plurality of edges and a set of network device classification heuristics,
- wherein assigning the network device roles comprises:
- identifying a first set of the nodes as top-of-rack switch (TOR) candidates based on the edges connected to each of the nodes in the first set;
- identifying a second set of the nodes as server candidates based on the edges connected to each of the nodes in the second set;
- tagging a first portion of the TOR candidates as TORs based on the edges connected to each of the TOR candidates;
- tagging a portion of the server candidates as servers based on the edges connected to each of the server candidates.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.