Path continuity determination in an aggregate flow environment

A method comprising:

• sending, by a controller node comprising a processor device to an ingress node, data that establishes a devolve action in association with an aggregate flow entry at the ingress node, the data including an idle timeout value;
• receiving, by the controller node from the ingress node, microflow generation information that identifies a new microflow associated with the devolve action;
• determining a continuity set identifier that is associated with the new microflow;
• determining a downstream node to which the new microflow will be forwarded;
• and
• determining a path continuity status between the ingress node and the downstream node based on a receipt of one or more microflow termination messages from the ingress node and the downstream node.

A node comprising:

• a transceiver configured to communicate with a network;
• and
• a processor device coupled to the transceiver and configured to:
• send data that establishes a devolve action in association with an aggregate flow entry at an ingress node, the data including an idle timeout value;
• receive, from the ingress node, microflow generation information that identifies a new microflow associated with the devolve action;
• determine a continuity set identifier that is associated with the new microflow;
• determine a downstream node to which the new microflow will be forwarded;
• and
• determine a path continuity status between the ingress node and the downstream node based on a receipt of one or more microflow termination messages from the ingress node and the downstream node.

A node comprising:

• a transceiver configured to communicate with a network;
• and
• a processor device coupled to the transceiver and configured to:
• receive a first packet having first header information that matches an aggregate flow entry in a flow table;
• determine that a devolve action is associated with the aggregate flow entry, the devolve action having an associated idle timeout value;
• determine a continuity set identifier that is associated with the devolve action;
• based on determining that the devolve action is associated with the aggregate flow entry, generate a first microflow flow entry in the flow table to define a first microflow, the first microflow flow entry including the continuity set identifier and a first idle timer based on the idle timeout value;
• determine that a timer associated with the first microflow flow entry has timed out;
• and
• in response to determining that the timer has timed out, send a controller node a microflow termination message that comprises the continuity set identifier.

A computer program product for generating a microflow stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and including instructions configured to cause a processor device to carry out the steps of:

• receiving a first packet having first header information that matches an aggregate flow entry in a flow table;
• determining that a devolve action is associated with the aggregate flow entry, the devolve action having an associated idle timeout value;
• determining a continuity set identifier that is associated with the devolve action;
• based on determining that the devolve action is associated with the aggregate flow entry, generating a first microflow flow entry in the flow table to define a first microflow, the first microflow flow entry including the continuity set identifier and a first idle timer based on the idle timeout value;
• determining that a timer associated with the first microflow flow entry has timed out;
• and
• in response to determining that the timer has timed out, sending a controller node a microflow termination message that comprises the continuity set identifier.

A computer program product stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and including instructions configured to cause a processor device to carry out the steps of:

• sending, to an ingress node, data that establishes a devolve action in association with an aggregate flow entry at the ingress node, the data including an idle timeout value;
• receiving, from the ingress node, microflow generation information that identifies a new microflow associated with the devolve action;
• determining a continuity set identifier that is associated with the new microflow;
• determining a downstream node to which the new microflow will be forwarded;
• and
• determining a path continuity status between the ingress node and the downstream node based on a receipt of one or more microflow termination messages from the ingress node and the downstream node.