Flow-based network switching system

1. A flow-based network switching system, comprising:

a memory including a flow table;

a packet processor coupled to the memory, wherein the packet processor includes:

a user-programmable flow-based rule storage that includes a plurality of flow-based rules;

a flow-based handler and session manager that is configured to retrieve application layer metadata that includes a first application signature from a first packet, determine a first flow session associated with the first packet using the first application signature in the application layer metadata from the first packet and the flow table, and retrieve at least one of the plurality of flow-based rules from the programmable flow-based rule storage using the first application signature in the application layer metadata from the first packet; and

a flow-based rule processing engine that is configured to apply the at least one flow-based rule to the first packet.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the memory further includes:

a queue that is operable to store packets.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the flow-based handler and session manager is further configured to:

retrieve application layer metadata that includes a second application signature from a second packet;

determine that at least one of a plurality of flow match rules from the flow table is associated with the second application signature in the application layer metadata from the second packet;

determine that no flow session is available; and

create a second flow session that is associated with the second packet.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the flow-based handler and session manager is further configured, in response to creating the second flow session, to:

update the memory for the second flow session.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the flow-based handler and session manager is further configured to:

retrieve application layer metadata that includes a second application signature from a second packet;

determine that none of a plurality of flow match rules from the flow table is associated with the second application signature in the application layer metadata from the second packet; and

determine that a default rule exists for the second packet, wherein the flow-based rule processing engine is operable to apply the default rule to the second packet.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the flow-based handler and session manager is further configured to:

deactivate the first flow session associated with the first packet.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one flow-based rule includes at least one of a security rule, a load balancing rule, a traffic shaping rule, a redirection rule, a modification rule, a statistical rule, and a packet header rewrite rule.

8. An information handling system (IHS) network, comprising:

a first IHS including an application and configured to generate and send a plurality of packets over a network;

a second IHS coupled to the first IHS through the network, wherein the second IHS is configured to:

assemble a first set of packets received from the first IHS;

retrieve application layer metadata that includes a first application signature from each of the first set of packets;

determine that a first flow session is associated with each packet of the first set of packets using the first application signature in the application layer metadata retrieved from that packet; and

retrieve and apply at least one flow-based rule for each packet of the first set of packets using the first application signature in the application layer metadata retrieved from that packet.

9. The IHS of claim 8 , wherein the second IHS further includes:

a memory including:

a flow table for use by the second IHS in determining the first flow session is associated with each packet of the first set of packets using the first application signature in the application layer metadata retrieved from that packet; and

a queue that is configured to store the first set of packets received from the first IHS.

10. The IHS of claim 8 , wherein the second IHS is further configured to:

assemble a second packet received from a third IHS;

retrieve application layer metadata that includes a second application signature from the second packet;

determine that at least one flow match rule is associated with the second application signature in the application layer metadata from the second packet;

determine that no flow session is associated with the second packet; and

create a second flow session that is associated with the second packet.

11. The IHS of claim 10 , wherein the second IHS is further Configured, in response to creating the second flow session, to:

update a memory for the second flow session.

12. The IHS of claim 8 , wherein the second IHS is further configured to:

assemble a second packet received from a third IHS;

retrieve application layer metadata that includes a second application signature from the second packet;

determine that no flow match rules are associated with the second application signature in the application layer metadata from the second packet;

retrieve and apply a default rule to the second packet.

13. The IHS of claim 8 , wherein the second IHS is further configured to:

deactivate the first flow session associated with the first set of packets.

14. The IHS of claim 8 , wherein the at least one flow-based rule includes at least one of a security rule, a load balancing rule, a traffic shaping rule, a redirection rule, a modification rule, a statistical rule, and a packet header rewrite rule.

15. A method for network switching, comprising:

assembling a first set of packets received from a first IHS over a network;

retrieving application layer metadata that includes a first application signature from each of the first set of packets;

determining that a first flow session is associated with each packet of the first set of packets using the first application signature in the application layer metadata retrieved from that packet;

retrieving and applying at least one flow-based rule for each packet of the first set of packets using the first application signature in the application layer metadata retrieved from that packet; and

forwarding each packet of the first set of packets.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

assembling a second packet received from a second IHS;

retrieving application layer metadata that includes a second application signature from the second packet;

determining that at least one flow match rule is associated with the second application signature in the application layer metadata from the second packet;

determining that no flow session is associated with the second packet; and

creating a second flow session that is associated with the second packet.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

updating a memory for the second flow session.

18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

assembling a second packet received from a third IHS;

retrieving application layer metadata that includes a second application signature from the second packet;

determining that no flow-based rules are associated with the second application signature in th application layer metadata from the second packet; and

retrieving and applying a default rule to the second packet.

19. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

deactivating the first flow session associated with the first set of packets.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the at least one flow-based rule includes at least one of a security rule, a load balancing rule, a traffic shaping rule, a redirection

rule, a modification rule, a statistical rule, and a packet header rewrite rule.