Reducing encapsulation overhead in overlay-based networks

A system for efficient data communication, the system comprising:

• a logic unit for receiving a data packet to be transmitted to a destination node in a overlay-based communications network, wherein the destination information is included in a virtual header that includes a virtual address of the destination node;
• a logic unit for determining a physical address of the destination node based on the virtual address of the destination node;
• a logic unit for replacing the virtual header for the received data packet with a physical header that includes the physical address;
• and
• a logic unit for transmitting the data packet over the communications network to a destination host based on the physical address included in the physical header;
• wherein the virtual address of the destination node is determined based on the physical address included in the physical header when the data packet is received at the destination host, and
• wherein a payload included in the data packet is delivered to the destination node via the destination host based on the virtual address of the destination node.

A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to:

• receive a data packet to be transmitted to a destination node in a overlay-based communications network, wherein the destination information is included in a virtual header that includes a virtual address of the destination node;
• determine a physical address of the destination node based on the virtual address of the destination node;
• replacing the virtual header for the received data packet with a physical header that includes the physical address;
• and
• transmit the data packet over the communications network to a destination host based on the physical address included in the physical header;
• wherein the virtual address of the destination node is determined based on the physical address included in the physical header when the data packet is received at the destination host, and
• wherein a payload included in the data packet is delivered to the destination node via the destination host based on the virtual address of the destination node.