Automated mirroring and remote switch port analyzer (RSPAN) functions using fabric attach (FA) signaling
A method and apparatus for automated mirroring is presented. A network device running as a Fabric Attach (FA) server configured to mirror traffic to a Remote Switch Port Analyzer (RSPAN) Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN), issues an FA Type Length Value (TLV) on its uplink to the FA server. The TLV includes a request to associate said RSPAN VLAN with a Service Identifier (I-SID) used to carry mirror traffic in a network. The network device sends the mirrored traffic on the RSPAN VLAN on its uplink to the FA server. The network device signals the I-SID into the network, and detects receive interest in the I-SID. The network device delivers the mirrored traffic to devices that expressed a receive interest in the mirrored traffic.
1. A method, comprising:
launching a monitoring application on a network device communicatively connected to a server in a network, wherein the monitoring application comprises a Service Identifier (SID) value of a mirror stream;
issuing, from the monitoring application to the server, a Type Length Value (TLV) comprising the SID value corresponding to the mirror stream; and
receiving, at the monitoring application, the mirrored stream via a Remote Switch Port Analyzer (RSPAN) Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN).
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the server is a Fabric Attach (FA) server, and wherein the TLV is a FA TLV.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the FA TLV comprises at least one of a Transmit (TX) bit and a Receive (RX) bit.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the at least one of the TX bit and the RX bit use at least one reserved bit in the FA TLV.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the at least one of the TX bit and the RX bit are part of a newly-defined TLV.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network comprises a Shortest Path Bridging (SPB) network.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the RSPAN comprises an Encapsulated Remote Switch Port Analyzer (ERSPAN).
8. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer readable code thereon, the medium including instructions in which a computer system performs operations comprising:
launching a monitoring application on a network device communicatively connected to a server in a network, wherein the monitoring application comprises Service Identifier (SID) values of monitored mirror streams;
issuing, from the monitoring application to the server, a Type Length Value (TLV) comprising the SID values corresponding to the monitored mirror streams;
assigning, by the monitoring application, a virtual local area network identifier (VLAN ID) in the TLV for at least two or more monitored mirror streams; and
multiplexing, at the monitoring application and based on the VLAN ID, the at least two or more monitored mirror streams, wherein the at least two or more monitored mirror streams are received via a Remote Switch Port Analyzer (RSPAN) Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN).
9. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the server is a Fabric Attach (FA) server, and wherein the TLV is a FA TLV.
10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the FA TLV comprises at least one of a Transmit (TX) bit and a Receive (RX) bit.
11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the at least one of the TX bit and the RX bit use at least one reserved bit in the FA TLV.
12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the at least one of the TX bit and the RX bit are part of a newly-defined TLV.
13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the TX bit and the RX bit are active at a same time.
14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the RSPAN comprises an Encapsulated Remote Switch Port Analyzer (ERSPAN).
15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the network comprises a Shortest Path Bridging (SPB) network.
16. A network device comprising:
a memory;
a processor; and
a communications interface,
wherein the memory, the processor, and the communications interface are communicatively coupled with each other,
wherein the memory is configured to store instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:
launch, a monitoring application on the network device connected to a server in a network, wherein the monitoring application comprises Service Identifier (SID) values of monitored mirror streams;
issue, from the monitoring application to the server, a Type Length Value (TLV) comprising the SID values corresponding to the monitored mirror streams; and
multiplex, at the monitoring application and based on a virtual local area network identified (VLAN ID), the at least two or more monitored mirror streams, wherein the at least two or more monitored mirror streams are received via a Remote Switch Port Analyzer (RSPAN) Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN).
17. The network device of claim 16 , wherein the server is a Fabric Attach (FA) server, and wherein the TLV is a FA TLV.
18. The network device of claim 17 , wherein the FA TLV includes at least one of a Transmit (TX) bit and a Receive (RX) bit.
19. The network device of claim 18 , wherein the at least one of the TX bit and the RX bit use at least one reserved bit in the FA TLV.
20. The network device of claim 16 , wherein the RSPAN comprises an Encapsulated Remote Switch Port Analyzer (ERSPAN).