Information system, control apparatus, method of providing virtual network, and program

Abstract

An information system of the present invention includes a plurality of physical nodes each of which processes a packet received from external node(s) according to a processing rule (packet handling operation) that associates a matching rule for identifying a flow and processing content to be applied to a packet that matches the matching rule, and a control apparatus which sets the processing rule in each of the plurality of physical nodes, thereby causing the plurality of physical nodes to operate as virtual nodes on a virtual network(s) usable by the external node(s). The control apparatus includes a first storage unit defining a correspondence relationship between each of the plurality of physical nodes and virtual network(s), and a second storage unit defining a correspondence relationship between each of the external node(s) and virtual node(s) on virtual network(s). The control apparatus determines the virtual network(s) and the virtual node(s) to which the external node(s) is to be connected, based on information on the physical node(s) to which the external node is connected and information on the external node(s).

1 . A physical node comprising;
 a memory configured to store program instructions for controlling a virtual network,   a processor configured to execute the program instructions to:
 communicate an external control apparatus, the control apparatus that manages a relationship between a virtual node on the virtual network and a terminal node communication with the virtual node, and 
 execute a function of the virtual node in response to instruction from the external control apparatus when the physical node received a data; wherein, the function is associated with the terminal node of the data source. 
   
     
     
         2 . The physical node according to the  claim 1 , the instruction is created in response to the change of the physical node through which the communication data transmitted by the terminal node passes. 
     
     
         3 . A control apparatus comprising;
 a memory configured to store program instructions for controlling a physical node correspond to a virtual network,   a processor configured to execute the program instructions to:
 associate a virtual node on the virtual network with a terminal node that communicates with the virtual node, 
 associate the physical node that processes communication data with the virtual node that corresponds to the terminal node of the data source that processes the communication data, 
 instruct the physical node to execute a function of the virtual node associated with the physical node. 
   
     
     
         4 . The control apparatus according to the  claim 3 , the processor instructs to execute the function in response to change of the physical node processing the communication data transmitted by the terminal node. 
     
     
         5 . A communication method for a network system, wherein the network system including a physical node, a control apparatus and a virtual network on a physical network including the physical node, comprising;
 communicating the control apparatus which manages a relationship between a virtual node on the virtual network and a terminal node communication with the virtual node,   executing a function of the virtual node in response to instruction from the control apparatus when the physical node received a data; wherein, the function is associated with the terminal node of the data source.   
     
     
         6 . The communication method according to the  claim 5 , the instruction is created in response to the change of the physical node through which the communication data transmitted by the terminal node passes.