Private allocated networks over shared communications infrastructure

A method for implementing private allocated networks in a virtual infrastructure, the method comprising:

• receiving, by a virtual switch in a host, a packet from a virtual machine executing on the host, the packet being sent from a network interface in the virtual machine connected to a private allocated network (PAN);
• checking, by the virtual switch, an addressing mode table to determine an addressing function corresponding to a particular destination node for the packet, the addressing function being defined for forwarding intranet PAN traffic between the virtual switch and other virtual switches connected to the PAN, wherein different types of addressing functions are supported by the virtual switch and include a first type of addressing function for destination nodes located at a same host as the virtual switch, a second type of addressing function for destination nodes located at a different host on a same physical network as the virtual switch, and a third type of addressing function for destination nodes located at a different host on a different physical network from the virtual switch, wherein each of the destination nodes is within the PAN;
• and
• sending the packet to the particular destination node using the determined addressing function.

A virtual switch in a first host for implementing private allocated networks in a virtual infrastructure, the virtual switch comprising:

• a first group of ports associated with a first private allocated network (PAN);
• a second group of ports associated with a second PAN, wherein intranet traffic within the first PAN is not visible to nodes that are not directly connected to the first PAN;
• and
• an addressing mode table for intranet traffic within the first PAN, wherein entries in the addressing mode table an define addressing functions for forwarding intranet traffic originated at the first group of ports, wherein a first addressing function corresponds to direct delivery for intranet traffic from the first group of ports to a virtual machine in the first host, wherein a second addressing function corresponds to layer 2 address translation for intranet traffic from the first group of ports to a virtual machine in a second host connected to the same physical media, and wherein a third addressing function corresponds to layer 3 encapsulation for intranet traffic from the first group of ports to a virtual machine in a third host not connected to the same physical media.

A system for network communications in a virtual infrastructure, the system comprising:

• one or more physical networks;
• and
• a plurality of hosts connected to the one or more physical networks, each host including:
• a virtual switch, each port in the virtual switch being associated with one of a plurality of private allocated networks (PAN), wherein nodes in each PAN have a same network address associated with the PAN, wherein each port can be associated with any of the PANs, wherein intranet PAN traffic between two hosts on different physical networks travels through the two different physical networks, and
• an addressing mode table for each PAN, wherein an entry in the addressing mode table defines an addressing function for forwarding intranet traffic for the PAN between the plurality of hosts, wherein different types of addressing functions are supported by the plurality of hosts and include a first type of addressing function for traffic destinations within the PAN located at a same host as the virtual switch, a second type of addressing function for traffic destinations within the PAN located at a different host on a same physical network as the virtual switch, and a third type of addressing function for traffic destinations within the PAN located at a different host on a different physical network from the virtual switch.