TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to computer networks.

BACKGROUND

A computer network is a collection of interconnected computing devices that exchange data and share resources. In certain types of computer networks, such as enterprise networks, data center networks, and service provider access networks, administrators need to configure and manage large numbers of endpoint users or customers attempting to send and receive data through the network.

As one example, a network connects a plurality of remote branch sites that belong to a single enterprise, such as a university, corporation, business, or other large entity. Each of the branch sites may include a private network, such a local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN) that includes a plurality of customer devices, such as desktop computers, laptops, workstations, personal digital assistants (PDAs), Internet of Things (IOT) devices, wireless devices, network-ready appliances, file servers, print servers or other devices.

A network may include a branch site switch that manages connectivity between hosts or endpoints within the network. The branch site switch may include a plurality of network devices, e.g., routers and/or switches, that provide hosts with access to the network, and to provide hosts with connectivity for host-to-host traffic within and between the branch sites.

SUMMARY

In general, the disclosure is directed to devices, systems, and techniques for using an aggregation device to manage satellite devices that are coupled to host devices. More specifically, the aggregation device is connected to one or more client devices, also referred to as access switches or satellite devices, such as in a two-tier structure to form a switch fabric. The aggregation device centrally manages interface configuration for each satellite device interface. For example, the aggregation device includes cascade ports for sending and receiving control and network traffic from satellite devices. The satellite devices each include one or more host-facing ports, also referred to as extended ports, that transmit and receive network traffic from the hosts, and are associated with the cascade ports of the aggregation device. The extended ports, in some cases, may be Power over Ethernet (PoE) ports.

Additionally, in some examples, the aggregation device may include a management interface configured to communicate with an orchestrator of a wide area network (WAN) or communicate with other components of the WAN. The orchestrator may be configured to communicate with, or manage, additional aggregation devices which may be placed in separate locations. In this way, the aggregation device and the satellite devices coupled to the aggregation device may represent a local area network (LAN) which represents a sub-network of the WAN that includes the orchestrator. As such, the orchestrator may be configured to manage a set of aggregation devices which in turn manage sets of respective switching devices. The aggregation device, the set of respective satellite devices, and the host devices coupled to the set of respective satellite devices may, in some cases, represent a “branch office” within the WAN. Additionally, in some cases, the orchestrater may be located within a “central office” of the WAN, where the central office manages branch offices by communicating with a respective aggregation device corresponding to each branch office.

The aggregation device which manages a set of satellite devices may, in some examples, include a forwarding unit such as a packet forwarding engine (PFE). In some cases, the forwarding unit may forward packets based on whether a respective packet is destined for a host device within the branch office that houses the aggregation device, or whether the respective packet is destined for the WAN (e.g., if the respective packet is destined for a host device coupled to a satellite device that is not managed by the aggregation device). For example, if the respective packet is destined for a host device within the branch office, the PFE may determine a cascade port corresponding to the satellite device, enabling the PEE to forward the respective packet to the host device via the cascade port. In some examples, if the respective packet is destined for the WAN, the PFE may forward the respective packet to the WAN via a WAN uplink.

The techniques of this disclosure provide a port extension service as a VNF, including tunneling functionality (e.g., 802.1BR) for port extension, such as for branch sites where universal customer premises equipment (uCPE) devices are used. The techniques enable the uCPE to represent the access switches as the satellite devices in the managed LAN, and the PoE capable ports as “extended ports” of the uCPE device itself, by which the general-purpose server logically becomes a massive PoE-capable switch.

The techniques of this disclosure may provide one or more advantages. For example, by enabling the aggregation device to manage the set of satellite devices, obviating a need for the orchestrator to manage the set of satellite devices, an operating efficiency of the orchestrator may be improved. In other words, it may be beneficial to delegate management of the satellite devices to the aggregation device in order to simplify tasks required of the orchestrator, decreasing a likelihood that the orchestrator will become overburdened and go offline. In some examples, it may be beneficial for the aggregation device to include virtual network functions (VNFs) and the forwarding unit configured for both routing packets within the branch office and forwarding packets outside of the branch office, the VNFs enabling the aggregation device to implement one or more security features. Additionally, since the satellite devices route packets through the aggregation device, which includes a rich set of access and control features, it might not be necessary for the satellite devices to include such access and control features, which may be expensive to include in satellite devices. In this way, it may be possible to cost-effectively add or remove large numbers of satellite devices to the LAN which is managed via the aggregation device. Additionally, configuring the satellite devices using the aggregation device instead of the orchestrator may allow for a greater level of scalability with respect to the satellite devices, such as by making it easier to add or remove satellite devices (e.g., switches) in large-scale networks. In other words, it may be easier to connect switches to the aggregation device from a user standpoint.

In some examples, a system includes a set of satellite devices providing switching functionality and an aggregation device configured to communicate with an orchestrator of a wide area network (WAN), where the aggregation device serves as a master switch and is coupled to the set of satellite devices via a set of cascade ports. The aggregation device is configured to detect, using a port extension service virtual network function (VNF) executing on the aggregation device, each satellite device of the set of satellite devices coupled to the aggregation device and send, to the orchestrator, data indicating the satellite devices as respective sub-systems within a logical switch including the aggregation device and the set of satellite devices. Additionally, the aggregation device is configured to receive, from the orchestrator, configuration information for managing at least one sub-system within the logical switch, and configure, by the port extension service based on the configuration information, the satellite device of the set of satellite devices corresponding to the sub-system.

In some examples, a method includes communicating, using an aggregation device, with an orchestrator of a wide area network (WAN), where the aggregation device serves as a master switch and is coupled to a set of satellite devices via a set of cascade ports, where the set of satellite devices provide switching functionality, detecting, using a port extension service virtual network function (VNF) executing on the aggregation device, each satellite device of the set of satellite devices coupled to the aggregation device, sending, to the orchestrator, data indicating the satellite devices as respective sub-systems within a logical switch including the aggregation device and the set of satellite devices, receiving, from the orchestrator, configuration information for managing at least one sub-system within the logical switch, and configuring, by the port extension service based on the configuration information, the satellite device of the set of satellite devices corresponding to the sub-system.

In some examples, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium stores instructions that when executed cause one or more programmable processors of an aggregation device to communicate with an orchestrator of a wide area network (WAN), where the aggregation device serves as a master switch and is coupled to a set of satellite devices via a set of cascade ports, where the set of satellite devices provide switching functionality, detect, using a port extension service virtual network function (VNF) executing on the aggregation device, each satellite device of the set of satellite devices coupled to the aggregation device, and send, to the orchestrator, data indicating the satellite devices as respective sub-systems within a logical switch including the aggregation device and the set of satellite devices. Additionally, the instructions cause one or more programmable processors of an aggregation device to receive, from the orchestrator, configuration information for managing at least one sub-system within the logical switch and configure, by the port extension service based on the configuration information, the satellite device of the set of satellite devices corresponding to the sub-system.

The summary is intended to provide an overview of the subject matter described in this disclosure. It is not intended to provide an exclusive or exhaustive explanation of the systems, device, and methods described in detail within the accompanying drawings and description below. Further details of one or more examples of this disclosure are set forth in the accompanying drawings and in the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

