METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR FLOW TABLE LOOKUP PARALLELIZATION IN A SOFTWARE DEFINED NETWORKING (SDN) SYSTEM

摘要

A method implemented in a Software Defined Networking (SDN) network for flow table lookup parallelization is disclosed. The SDN network contains at least a SDN controller and at least a forwarding element and the SDN network utilizes a plurality of flow tables to perform lookup for forwarding traffic. The method starts with determining dependency of flow tables within the forwarding element using a set of dependency determination rules. A dependency graph is then constructed based on determined dependency of flow tables. A dependency degree count for each flow table within the forwarding element is determined based on the dependency graph. Based on the dependency degree count determination for each flow table, a plurality of parallel lookup groups (PLGs) for the forwarding element is formed, where each parallel lookup group contains one or more flow tables having a same dependency degree count.