Network system and network managing method

Abstract

A controller completes the setting of a flow entry to a switch previously before the communication of a virtual machine starts. Specifically, the controller sets information of the virtual machine and information of a server on which the virtual machine operates. The controller detects the information of the server under the switch through the switch. When the set server information and the detected server information match to each other, the controller sets a flow entry for a packet destined to the virtual machine to the switch based on information of the virtual machine on the server. After that, the virtual machine starts communication.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A control apparatus, comprising:
 a memory storing program instructions; and   a processor configured to execute the program instructions to:
 receive virtual machine information from a management apparatus, wherein the virtual machine information includes a first location information; 
 receive a second location information corresponding to a virtual machine from a switch apparatus; 
 identify, based on the first location information and the second location information, a packet process instruction to process a packet addressed to the virtual machine; and 
 send the packet process instruction to the switch apparatus. 
   
     
     
         3 . The control apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the packet process instruction includes a packet forwarding instruction for the switch apparatus to forward the packet. 
     
     
         4 . The control apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the program instructions to identify the packet process instruction when the second location information matches the first location information. 
     
     
         5 . The control apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein each of the first location information and the second location information represents an address of a physical server to which the virtual machine belongs. 
     
     
         6 . The control apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the program instructions to receive a change of the first location information from the management apparatus. 
     
     
         7 . The control apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the program instructions to:
 receive a third location information from a second switch apparatus;   identify, based on the changed first location information and the third location information, a second packet process instruction; and   send the second packet process instruction to the second switch apparatus.   
     
     
         8 . A communication system, comprising:
 a switch apparatus processing a packet; and   a control apparatus, comprising:
 a memory storing program instructions; and 
 a processor configured to execute the program instructions to: 
 receive virtual machine information from a management apparatus, wherein the virtual machine information includes a first location information; 
 receive a second location information corresponding to a virtual machine from a switch apparatus; 
 identify, based on the first location information and the second location information, a packet process instruction to process a packet addressed to the virtual machine; and 
 send the packet process instruction to the switch apparatus. 
   
     
     
         9 . The communication system according to  claim 8 , wherein the packet process instruction includes a packet forwarding instruction for the switch apparatus to forward the packet. 
     
     
         10 . The communication system according to  claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the program instructions to identify the instruction when the second location information matches the first location information. 
     
     
         11 . The communication system according to  claim 8 , wherein each of the first location information and the second location information represents an address of a physical server to which the virtual machine belongs. 
     
     
         12 . The communication system according to  claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute the program instructions to receive a change of the first location information from the management apparatus. 
     
     
         13 . The communication system according to  claim 12 , further comprises a second switch apparatus processing a packet,
 wherein the processor is further configured to execute the program instructions to:   receive a third location information from the second switch apparatus;   identify, based on the changed first location information and the third location information, a second instruction; and   send the second instruction to the second switch apparatus.   
     
     
         14 . A communication method, comprising:
 receiving virtual machine information from a management apparatus, wherein the virtual machine information includes a first location information;   receiving a second location information according to a virtual machine from a switch apparatus;   identifying, based on the first location information and the second location information, an instruction to process a packet addressed to the virtual machine; and   sending the instruction to the switch apparatus.   
     
     
         15 . The communication method according to  claim 14 , wherein the packet process instruction includes a packet forwarding instruction for the switch apparatus to forward the packet. 
     
     
         16 . The communication method according to  claim 14 , further comprises identifying the instruction when the second location information matches the first location information. 
     
     
         17 . The communication method according to  claim 14 , wherein each of the first location information and the second location information represents an address of a physical server to which the virtual machine belongs. 
     
     
         18 . The communication method according to  claim 14 , further comprises receiving a change of the first location information from the management apparatus. 
     
     
         19 . The communication method according to  claim 18 , further comprises:
 receiving a third location information from a second switch apparatus;   identifying, based on the changed first location information and the third location information, a second instruction; and   sending the second instruction to the second switch apparatus.   
     
     
         20 . A computer readable medium configured to be executed by a processor to perform the communication method of  claim 14 .