Packet rewriting apparatus, control apparatus, communication system, packet transmission method and program

1. A packet rewriting apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor configured to implement:

a packet rewriting rule storage unit configured to store packet rewriting rule(s) for writing information corresponding to a virtual network identifier included in an additional header of a packet outputted from a tunnel end point, to a prescribed region of an original header; and

a packet rewriting unit configured to rewrite, in accordance with said packet rewriting rule, to a packet in which information corresponding to said virtual network identifier is written to the original header of a transmitted packet;

wherein when said packet rewriting rule storage unit does not store said packet rewriting rule which corresponds to a received packet from said tunnel end point, said packet rewriting unit is further configured to make a request for a corresponding packet rewriting rule to a controller,

wherein said packet rewriting apparatus is arranged between said tunnel end point and a switch that refers to content of the original header to determine processing to be applied to a packet, and

wherein said packet rewriting apparatus communicates with said controller according to Open Flow protocol.

2. The packet rewriting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said packet rewriting unit is further configured to refer to said packet rewriting rule to execute processing to restore a received packet on which the rewriting has been performed.

3. The packet rewriting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a packet rewriting rule distributed by a control apparatus that controls said switch is used as said packet rewriting rule.

4. The packet rewriting apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein a packet rewriting rule that rewrites content of a prescribed region of an original header to content used in a match condition of control information set in said switch by said control apparatus, is used as said packet rewriting rule.

5. The packet rewriting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a packet rewriting rule that rewrites content of a prescribed region of an original header to an identifier that uniquely identifies said virtual network, is used as said packet rewriting rule.

6. The packet rewriting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said packet rewriting apparatus is built into a physical server in which a virtual machine, which communicates via said tunnel end point, operates.

7. A control apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor configured to implement:

a packet rewriting rule creation unit configured to create a packet rewriting rule to write information corresponding to a virtual network identifier included in an additional header of a packet outputted from a tunnel end point, to a prescribed region of an original header; and

a control unit configured to distribute said created packet rewriting rule to a packet rewriting apparatus arranged between a switch and said tunnel end point,

wherein said control unit is further configured to respond to a request for a corresponding packet rewriting rule from said packet rewriting apparatus when a packet rewriting rule storage unit of said packet rewriting apparatus does not store said packet rewriting rule which corresponds to a received packet from said tunnel end point, and

wherein said packet rewriting apparatus communicates with said control apparatus according to Open Flow protocol.

8. The control apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein said control apparatus is further configured to use said packet rewriting rule to create a match condition for control information set in a subordinate switch.

9. A communication system, comprising:

a switch configured to refer to content of an original header to determine processing to be applied to a packet;

a control apparatus configured to control said switch by setting control information that determines a match condition that matches content of the original header, and processing to be applied to a packet matching the match condition, in said switch;

a packet rewriting rule storage unit configured to store a packet rewriting rule for writing information corresponding to a virtual network identifier included in an additional header of a packet outputted from a tunnel end point, to a prescribed region of the original header; and

a packet rewriting apparatus comprising at least one processor configured to implement a packet rewriting unit configured to rewrite, in accordance with said packet rewriting rule, to a packet in which information corresponding to said virtual network identifier is written to the original header of a transmitted packet, said packet rewriting apparatus being arranged between said tunnel end point and a switch that refers to content of the original header to determinate processing to be applied to a packet,

wherein when said packet rewriting rule storage unit does not store said packet rewriting rule which corresponds to a received packet from said tunnel end point, said packet rewriting unit is further configured to make a request for a corresponding packet rewriting rule to a controller,

wherein path control of a packet interposed with respect to said tunnel end point is performed via said switch and said tunnel end point, and

wherein said packet rewriting apparatus communicates with said controller according to Open Flow protocol.

10. The communication system according to claim 9 , wherein said at least one processor in said control apparatus is further configured to implement:

a packet rewriting rule creation unit configured to create a packet rewriting rule to be stored in said packet rewriting rule storage unit; and

a control unit configured to distribute said created packet rewriting rule to a packet rewriting apparatus arranged between said switch and said tunnel end point.

11. A packet transmission method, comprising:

rewriting information corresponding to a virtual network identifier included in an additional header of a packet outputted from a tunnel end point, in accordance with a packet rewriting rule for writing to a prescribed region of an original header, to a packet in which information corresponding to said virtual network identifier is written to the original header of a transmitted packet;

requesting a corresponding packet rewriting rule when said packet rewriting rule which corresponds to a received packet from said tunnel end point is not stored; and

transmitting said rewritten packet to a switch via a prescribed physical port,

wherein said packet computer communicates according to Open Flow protocol.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a program to be executed on a computer to which a packet outputted from a tunnel end point is inputted, comprising:

a process of rewriting information corresponding to a virtual network identifier included in an additional header of a packet outputted from a tunnel end point, in accordance with a packet rewriting rule for writing to a prescribed region of an original header, to a packet in which information corresponding to said virtual network identifier is written to the original header of a transmitted packet;

a process of requesting a corresponding packet rewriting rule when said computer does not store said packet rewriting rule which corresponds to a received packet from said tunnel end point; and

a process of transmitting said rewritten packet to a switch via a prescribed physical port,

wherein said packet computer communicates according to Open Flow protocol.