Software-defined networking tunneling extensions

1. A computer-implemented method for software-defined networking (SDN) in a computer network, the method comprising:

receiving, at a SDN controller in the computer network, a request from a requestor to identify a flow of a data packet from a source network device to a destination network device in the computer network, the data packet including a data packet header;

determining, by the SDN controller, based on the data packet header, that the data packet includes one of a peripheral component internet express (PCIe) data packet and a multi-root input/output (MR-IOV) data packet, and that the flow of the data packet requires a virtual tunnel between the source network device and the destination network device;

initiating, by the SDN controller, creation of the virtual tunnel in the computer network;

instructing, by the SDN controller, the requestor to send the packet from the source network device to the destination network device via the virtual tunnel; and

instructing the requestor to use the virtual tunnel for sending subsequent packets having the same flow and received prior to the virtual tunnel being shut down.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the PCIe data packet is encapsulated in the data packet.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the MR-IOV data packet is encapsulated in the data packet.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the virtual tunnel includes a plurality of links that are bound together and used in parallel.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

monitoring utilization of the virtual tunnel; and

shutting down the virtual tunnel based on the utilization dropping below a specified threshold.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data packet is an Ethernet data packet.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the source network device and the destination network device are implemented by Ethernet switches.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the computer network includes a converged enhanced Ethernet (CEE).

9. A system for software-defined networking (SDN) in a computer network, the system comprising:

a SDN controller; and

a memory coupled to the SDN controller, wherein instructions in the memory are configured to cause the SDN controller to:

receive a request from a requestor to identify a flow of a data packet from a source network device to a destination network device in the computer network, the data packet including a data packet header;

determine, based on the data packet header, that the data packet includes one of a peripheral component internet express (PCIe) data packet and a multi-root input/output (MR-IOV) data packet, and that the flow of the data packet requires a virtual tunnel between the source network device and the destination network device;

initiate creation of the virtual tunnel in the computer network;

instruct the requestor to send the packet from the source network device to the destination network device via the virtual tunnel; and

instruct the requestor to use the virtual tunnel for sending subsequent packets having the same flow and received prior to the virtual tunnel being shut down.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the PCIe data packet is encapsulated in the data packet.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the MR-IOV data packet is encapsulated in the data packet.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the instructions are further configured to cause the SDN controller to:

monitor utilization of the virtual tunnel; and

shut down the virtual tunnel based on the utilization dropping below a specified threshold.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the data packet is an Ethernet data packet.

14. The system of claim 9 , wherein the source network device and the destination network device are implemented by Ethernet switches.

15. The system of claim 9 , wherein the computer network includes a converged enhanced Ethernet (CEE).

16. A computer program product for software-defined networking (SDN) in a computer network, the computer program product comprising:

a tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method comprising:

receiving a request from a requestor to identify a flow of a data packet from a source network device to a destination network device in the computer network, the data packet including a data packet header;

determining, based on the data packet header, that the data packet includes one of a peripheral component internet express (PCIe) data packet and a multi-root input/output (MR-IOV) data packet, and that the flow of the data packet requires a virtual tunnel between the source network device and the destination network device;

initiating creation of the virtual tunnel in the computer network;

instructing the requestor to send the packet from the source network device to the destination network device via the virtual tunnel; and

instructing the requestor to use the virtual tunnel for sending subsequent packets having the same flow and received prior to the virtual tunnel being shut down.

17. The computer program product of claim 16 , wherein the PCIe data packet is encapsulated in the data packet.

18. The computer program product of claim 16 , wherein the MR-IOV data packet is encapsulated in the data packet.

19. The computer program product of claim 16 , wherein the method further comprises:

monitoring utilization of the virtual tunnel; and

shutting down the virtual tunnel based on the utilization dropping below a specified threshold.

20. The computer program product of claim 16 , wherein the computer network includes a converged enhanced Ethernet (CEE).