Dynamic networking of virtual machines

Abstract

The invention is directed to the use of Provider Backbone Bridging (PBB) technology with Shortest Path Bridging, also called Provider Link State Bridging (PLSB) technology in the context of data centers and virtualized physical servers infrastructures. Virtual servers can be located anywhere inside the data center, or across different data centers, and still act as though they are physically adjacent and share the same Ethernet connectivity. Ethernet virtual machine VLan memberships are mapped to PBB Service Identifiers (I-SIDs). PBB I-SIDs extend the connectivity model to every Ethernet switches in the local, metropolitan or wide area networks. PLSB complements the connectivity by providing dynamic distribution and mapping of I-SID endpoints in the PBB domain. Virtual servers can then be added, removed or transferred to another point in the network and PLSB adjusts the VLan/I-SID specific connectivity pattern to match the physical distribution of the servers.

1 . A Provider Backbone Bridging (PBB) domain comprising a plurality of nodes:
 a first edge node of the PBB domain and a second edge node of the PBB domain being provisioned to a common PBB Service Identifier (I-SID);   each node of the PBB domain being aware of the first and second edge nodes; and   nodes on the shortest path between the first edge node and the second edge node being aware of the shortest path between the first edge node and the second edge node thereby establishing a network connection between said first edge node and said second edge node.   
     
     
         2 . The network of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first virtual machine associated with said first edge node; and   a second virtual machine associated with said second edge node, the first virtual machine and the second virtual machine being connected via the network connection.   
     
     
         3 . The network of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first edge node is mapped to a PBB Service Identifier (I-SID), thereby creating a first Provider Edge participating in said PBB I-SID; and   the second edge node is mapped to the PBB I-SID, thereby creating a second Provider Edge participating in said PBB I-SID.   
     
     
         4 . The network of  claim 3 , wherein Provider Link State Bridging (PLSB) is implemented to compute the shortest path and to install forwarding state for the computed shortest path. 
     
     
         5 . The network of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one interface operable to use Command Line Interface (CLI) commands to provision the first and second edge nodes. 
     
     
         6 . The network of  claim 1 , wherein the first edge node and the second edge node are located in a common data center. 
     
     
         7 . The network of  claim 1 , wherein the first edge node and the second edge node are located in geographically diverse data centres. 
     
     
         8 . A method of dynamically forming a network of virtual machines in a Provider Backbone Bridging (PBB) domain, comprising:
 provisioning a first edge node of said PBB domain and a second edge node of said PBB domain to a common PBB Service Identifier (I-SID);   propagating information to the PBB domain that said common PBB Service Identifier (I-SID) has been provisioned on said first and second edge nodes;   computing the shortest path between said first edge node and said second edge node; and   installing forwarding state for the computed shortest path, thereby establishing a network connection between said first edge node and said second edge node.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 associating a first virtual machine with said first edge node;   associating a second virtual machine with said second edge node;   whereby said first virtual machine and said second virtual machine are connected via said network connection.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said provisioning step comprises:
 mapping said first edge node to a PBB Service Identifier (I-SID), thereby creating a first Provider Edge participating in said PBB I-SID; and   mapping said second edge node of said PBB domain to said PBB I-SID, thereby creating a second Provider Edge participating in said PBB I-SID.   
     
     
         11 . The method as set forth in  claim 10 , further comprising performing said steps of propagating of information and computing of the shortest path using Provider Link State Bridging (PLSB). 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said provisioning step is performed using Command Line Interface (CLI) commands. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said first edge node and said second edge node are located in a common data center. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said first edge node and said second edge node are located in geographically diverse data centres. 
     
     
         15 . A system for dynamically forming a network of virtual machines in a Provider Backbone Bridging (PBB) domain, the system comprising:
 a command line interface (CLI) operable to provision a first edge node of said PBB domain and a second edge node of said PBB domain to a common PBB Service Identifier (I-STD);   a link state protocol operable to propagate information to the PBB domain that said common PBB Service Identifier (I-SID) has been provisioned on said first and second edge nodes;   nodes operable:
 to compute the shortest path between said first edge node and said second edge node; and 
 to install forwarding state for the computed shortest path, thereby establishing a network connection between said first edge node and said second edge node. 
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a first virtual machine associated with said first edge node;   a second virtual machine associated with said second edge node;   whereby said first virtual machine and said second virtual machine are connected via said network connection.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the CLI is operable:
 to map said first edge node to a PBB Service Identifier (I-SID), thereby creating a first Provider Edge participating in said PBB I-SID; and   to map said second edge node of said PBB domain to said PBB I-SID, thereby creating a second Provider Edge participating in said PBB I-SID.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the nodes implement Provider Link State Bridging (PLSB). 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said first edge node and said second edge node are located in a common data center. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said first edge node and said second edge node are located in geographically diverse data centres.