Data Flow Statistics Collection Method, System, and Apparatus

A data flow statistics collection method, comprising:

• determining, by a controller and according to characteristic information of a to-be-counted flow object, at least two flow entries corresponding to the to-be-counted flow object;
• determining, by the controller, identification information that is used to identify the to-be-counted flow object respectively matches flow entries of the at least two flow entries;
• and
• sending, by the controller and to a switch, configuration information that is for collecting statistics on the to-be-counted flow object,
• wherein the configuration information comprises the at least two flow entries and the identification information so that the switch performs, according to the at least two flow entries and the identification information, statistics collection on the to-be-counted flow object by collecting statistics and recording statistical information in a first flow entry, and
• wherein the first flow entry is the last flow entry of the at least two flow entries.

A switch configured to collect statistics using a received data packet, wherein the statistics are performed on a to-be-counted flow object, and wherein the switch comprises:

• a bus;
• a processor connected to the bus;
• and
• a memory connected to the bus,
• wherein the memory is configured to store an execution instruction,
• wherein the processor is configured to communicate with the memory and execute the execution instruction to:
• match a first part of fields in the data packet with a first flow entry in a first flow table;
• record first identification information and at least one piece of second identification information in the first flow entry;
• perform statistics collection on the to-be-counted flow object in the first flow entry;
• record statistical information of the to-be-counted flow object when the first part of fields match the first flow entry and the first flow entry is the last flow entry corresponding to the to-be-counted flow object;
• and
• record the first identification information in a global statistical identifier when the first part of fields match the first flow entry and the first flow entry is not the last flow entry corresponding to the to-be-counted flow object,
• wherein the first identification information is used to identify that the first part of fields match the first flow entry,
• wherein the global statistical identifier comprises the at least one piece of second identification information, and
• wherein the at least one piece of second identification information is used to identify that at least one second part of fields in the data packet respectively match a second flow entry in at least one second flow table.

A controller, comprising:

• a bus;
• a processor connected to the bus;
• a transmitter connected to the bus;
• and
• a memory connected to the bus,
• wherein the memory is configured to store an execution instruction,
• wherein the processor is configured to communicate with the memory and execute the execution instruction to:
• determine, according to characteristic information of a to-be-counted flow object, at least two flow entries corresponding to the to-be-counted flow object;
• and
• determine identification information that is used to identify the to-be-counted flow object respectively matches flow entries of the at least two flow entries,
• wherein the transmitter is configured to send, to a switch, configuration information that is for collecting statistics on the to-be-counted flow object,
• wherein the configuration information comprises the at least two flow entries and the identification information so that the switch performs, according to the at least two flow entries and the identification information, statistics collection on the to-be-counted flow object by collecting statistics and recording statistical information in a first flow entry, and
• wherein the first flow entry is the last flow entry of the at least two flow entries.