Packet classification for network routing
Techniques for packet classification for network routing are disclosed. In some embodiments, packet classification for network routing includes receiving packets associated with a new flow at a security controller from a network device, in which the network device performs packet forwarding; classifying the flow; and determining an action for the flow based on a policy (e.g., a security policy). In some embodiments, the network device is a Software Defined Network (SDN) network device (e.g., a packet forwarding device that supports the OpenFlow protocol or another protocol).
1. A system for a security controller that performs packet classification for network routing, comprising:
a processor configured to:
receive packets associated with a flow from a network device, wherein the network device performs packet forwarding;
classify the flow, comprising to:
determine application associated with the flow, comprising to:
determine type of traffic related to the flow; and
perform application signature matching based on the type of traffic to determine the application; and
determine user associated with the flow, comprising to:
extract username, password, or a combination thereof being submitted to an external site from the received packets to determine the user;
determine an action for the flow based on a policy, comprising:
determine the action for the flow based on the application and the user;
instruct the network device to perform the action for the flow, wherein the action is to drop the flow, ignore the flow, or shunt the flow; and
receive additional packets associated with a new flow from the network device, wherein the security controller performs further classification of the new flow; and
a memory coupled to the processor and configured to provide the processor with instructions.
2. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein the network device is a Software Defined Network (SDN) network device.
3. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein the policy is a security policy.
4. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
instruct the network device to perform the action for the flow using an application programming interface (API) mechanism.
5. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
instruct the network device to perform the action for the flow by tagging a packet associated with the flow.
6. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein the determining of the type of traffic related to the flow comprises to:
identify a request in the received packets to determine the type of traffic.
7. A method of a security controller that performs packet classification for network routing, comprising:
receiving packets associated with a flow at the security controller from a network device, wherein the network device performs packet forwarding;
classifying the flow using a processor of the security controller that performs packet classification for network routing, comprising:
determining application associated with the flow, comprising:
determining type of traffic related to the flow; and
performing application signature matching based on the type of traffic to determine the application; and
determining user associated with the flow, comprising:
extracting username, password, or a combination thereof being submitted to an external site from the received packets to determine the user;
determining an action for the flow based on a policy, comprising:
determining the action for the flow based on the application and the user;
instructing the network device to perform the action for the flow, wherein the action is to drop the flow, ignore the flow, or shunt the flow; and
receiving additional packets associated with a new flow from the network device, wherein the security controller performs further classification of the new flow.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the network device is a Software Defined Network (SDN) network device.
9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
instructing the network device to perform the action for the flow using an API mechanism.
10. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
instructing the network device to perform the action for the flow by tagging a packet associated with the flow.
11. A computer program product for a security controller that performs packet classification for network routing, the computer program product being embodied in a tangible, non-transitory computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:
receiving packets associated with a flow at the security controller from a network device, wherein the network device performs packet forwarding;
classifying the flow, comprising:
determining application associated with the flow, comprising:
determining type of traffic related to the flow; and
performing application signature matching based on the type of traffic to determine the application; and
determining user associated with the flow, comprising:
extracting username, password, or a combination thereof being submitted to an external site from the received packets to determine the user;
determining an action for the flow based on a policy, comprising:
determining the action for the flow based on the application and the user;
instructing the network device to perform the action for the flow, wherein the action is to drop the flow, ignore the flow, or shunt the flow; and
receiving additional packets associated with a new flow from the network device, wherein the security controller performs further classification of the new flow.
12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the network device is a Software Defined Network (SDN) network device.
13. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
instruct the network device to perform the action for the flow using an application programming interface (API) mechanism.
14. The system recited in claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
instruct the network device to perform the action for the flow by tagging a packet associated with the flow.