Systems and methods for consistent configuration update handling in high availability deployments using a global configuration epoch

A method comprising:

• using, by a data plane, an encapsulated network packet received from a virtual network interface card (VNIC) to identify a flow table entry;
• making a determination that the flow table entry is out of date, that a virtual internet protocol (VIP) address in the encapsulated network packet is bound to the VNIC, and that the VNIC is in a HA active role for the VIP address;
• and
• updating, by a control plane, the flow table entry in response to a result of making the determination,
• wherein:
• a packet processing pipeline circuit of a networking device is configured to implement the data plane;
• and
• a processor of the networking device is configured to implement the control plane.

A networking device comprising:

• a circuit means for implementing a data plane means;
• a processor means for implementing a control plane means;
• and
• a determination means for making a determination that a flow table entry is out of date, that a virtual internet protocol (VIP) address is bound to a virtual network interface card (VNIC) implemented by the networking device, and that the VNIC is in a high availability (HA) active role for the VIP address,
• wherein:
• the flow table entry is associated with the VIP address;
• and
• the control plane means is configured to update the flow table entry in response to a result of the determination means making the determination.