Method and apparatus for ingress filtering using security group information

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a packet at an ingress node of a network,

wherein

said network comprises a plurality of nodes,

said ingress node is one of said plurality of nodes,

said packet is received from a source node communicatively coupled to said network at said ingress node,

said packet comprises

source security group information, and

a destination address,

said destination address is an address of a network node communicatively coupled to said network,

said source security group information identifies a source security group,

said source node is a member of said source security group, and

said network node is a destination of said packet;

extracting said destination address from said packet, using a processor of said ingress node;

determining destination security group information, using said processor, wherein

said destination security group information is determined using said destination address; and

performing access control processing on said packet, using said processor, wherein

said access control processing comprises

comparing said destination security group information and said source security group information.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein

said security group information is a source security group identifier, and

said destination group information is a destination security group identifier.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

sending a first packet from said ingress node, wherein

said first packet comprises

source security group information of said first packet, and

a destination address of said first packet,

said source security group information of said first packet identifies said source security group,

said destination address of said first packet is an address of a destination of said first packet, and

said destination of said first packet is said network node.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

receiving access control information at said ingress node, wherein

said receiving said access control information is in response to receiving a reply to said sending said first packet,

said access control information comprises

said destination security group information, and

said destination address,

said destination security group information identifies a destination security group, and

said network node is a member of said destination security group.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said receiving said access control information comprises:

receiving a control packet at said ingress node, wherein

said control packet comprises said access control information.

6. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

associating said security group information and said destination address with one another.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein said associating comprises:

creating a binding at said ingress node, wherein

said binding is between said destination security group information and said destination address.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

deleting said binding in response to a criteria being met.

9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

receiving a second packet at said ingress node; and

filtering said second packet using said binding.

10. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

receiving said first packet at said ingress node;

determining if a binding between said destination security group information and said destination address exists;

if said binding exists,

performing said access control processing; and

if said binding does not exist,

performing said sending said first packet, wherein

said sending said first packet sends said packet to an egress node,

filtering said packet at said egress node, and

if said first packet is denied as a result of said filtering at said egress node,

sending said control packet from said egress node to said ingress node.

11. The method of claim 5 , wherein

said control packet is a modified Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) packet.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining if a binding between said destination security group information and said destination address exists;

if said binding exists,

performing said access control processing; and

if said binding does not exist,

sending said first packet to said network node.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein said sending said first packet to said network node comprises:

receiving said packet at an egress node;

filtering said packet at said egress node; and

if said first packet is denied as a result of said filtering at said egress node,

sending a control packet from said egress node to said ingress node,

wherein

said control packet comprises said access control information, and

said access control information comprises

said destination security group information, and

said destination address.

14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving access control information at said ingress node, wherein

said access control information comprises

said destination security group information, and

said destination address,

said destination security group information identifies a destination security group, and

said network node is a member of said destination security group.

15. A computer program product comprising:

a plurality of instructions, comprising

a first set of instructions, executable on an ingress node of a network,

configured to receive a packet, wherein

said network comprises a plurality of nodes,

said ingress node is one of said plurality of nodes,

said packet is configured to be received from a source node communicatively coupled to said network at said ingress node,

said packet comprises

source security group information, and

a destination address,

said destination address is an address of a network node communicatively coupled to said network,

said source security group information identifies a source security group,

said source node is a member of said source security group, and

said network node is a destination of said packet,

a second set of instructions, executable on said ingress node, configured to extract said destination address from said packet,

a third set of instructions, executable on said ingress node, configured to determine destination security group information, wherein

said destination security group information is determined using said destination address,

a fourth set of instructions, executable on said ingress node, configured to perform access control processing on said packet, wherein

said fourth set of instructions comprise

a first subset of instructions, executable on said ingress node, configured to compare said destination security group information and said source security group information; and

a computer-readable storage medium, wherein said instructions are encoded in said computer-readable storage medium.

16. The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein said instructions further comprise:

a fifth set of instructions, executable on said ingress node, configured to receive access control information at said ingress node, wherein

said access control information comprises

said destination security group information, and

said destination address,

said destination security group information identifies a destination security group, and

said network node is a member of said destination security group.

17. The computer program product of claim 16 , wherein said instructions further comprise:

a sixth set of instructions, executable on said ingress node, configured to send a first packet from said ingress node, wherein

said first packet comprises

source security group information of said first packet, and

a destination address of said first packet,

said source security group information of said first packet identifies said source security group,

said destination address of said first packet is an address of a destination of said first packet, and

said destination of said first packet is said network node.

18. The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein said instructions further comprise:

a seventh set of instructions, executable on said ingress node, configured to associate said security group information and said destination address with one another, wherein

said seventh set of instructions comprises

a first subset of instructions, executable on said ingress node,

configured to create a binding at said ingress node,

said binding is between said destination security group information and said destination address.

19. The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein said instructions further comprise:

a fifth set of instructions, executable on said ingress node, configured to determine if a binding between said destination security group information and said destination address exists;

a sixth set of instructions, executable on said ingress node, configured to perform said access control processing, if said binding exists; and

a seventh set of instructions, executable on said ingress node, configured to send said first packet to said network node, if said binding does not exist.

20. A computer system comprising:

a processor;

a computer-readable storage medium coupled to said processor; and

a plurality of instructions, encoded in said computer-readable storage medium and configured to cause said processor to

receive a packet at an ingress node of a network, wherein

said network comprises a plurality of nodes,

said ingress node is one of said plurality of nodes,

said packet is received from a source node communicatively coupled to said network at said ingress node,

said packet comprises

source security group information, and

a destination address,

said destination address is an address of a network node communicatively coupled to said network,

said source security group information identifies a source security group,

said source node is a member of said source security group, and

said network node is a destination of said packet;

extract said destination address from said packet, using a processor of said ingress node;

determine destination security group information, using said processor, wherein

said destination security group information is determined using said destination address; and

perform access control processing on said packet, using said processor, wherein

said access control processing comprises

comparing said destination security group information and said source security group information.