Refresh of the binding tables between data-link-layer and network-layer addresses on mobility in a data center environment

Abstract

A method for assisting communication of a source host upon movement from a first Data center (DC) to a second DC is disclosed. The method includes identifying that the source host has moved from the first DC to the second DC, ensuring that packets identifying a source as the source host in the second DC are copied to a control plane network element, and, for a first destination host identified in a first packet copied to the control plane network element and identified as a host that is not in the second DC, updating an Address Resolution Protocol (ARP)/Neighbor Discovery Protocol (NDP) cache of the source host by sending, to the source host, a first ARP message/unsolicited neighbor advertisement specifying a Media Access Control (MAC) address of an edge router associated with the source host in the second DC as a destination MAC address for the first destination host.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method to assist communication of a source host, the method comprising:
 receiving a learn notification;   determining if the learn notification is bound to an address;   in response to the learn notification being bound to the address, determining if the address is in a database;   in response to the address being in the database, establishing no new host move; and   in response to the address not being in the database, confirming the new host move.