VMware, Inc.
LOGICAL NETWORK PACKET HANDLING ON PHYSICAL NETWORK INTERFACE CONTROLLER (PNIC)

Abstract:

Example methods and systems for logical network packet handling are described. In one example, a physical network interface controller (PNIC) may receive an egress packet associated with a packet flow via a first virtual function supported by the PNIC. The PNIC may steer the egress packet towards a processing pipeline by applying a filter associated with the first virtual function or content of the egress packet, or both. The egress packet may be processed using the processing pipeline to generate a processed packet by (a) retrieving a logical network policy associated with the packet flow from a datastore on the PNIC and (b) performing one or more actions according to the logical network policy. The processed packet may be forwarded towards the destination via a second virtual function supported by the PNIC or a physical network connected to the PNIC.