Operation; Figure 22: Basic Cflowd Steps - Alcatel-Lucent 7450 Configuration Manual

Operation

Figure 22
describe the basic steps that are performed. It is not intended to specify implementation.
FORWARD/
INGRESS PORT
BIT BUCKET
1. As a packet ingresses a port, a decision is made to forward or drop the packet.
2. If the packet is forwarded, it is then decided if the packet should be sampled for cflowd.
3. If a new flow is found, a new entry is added to the cache. If the flow already exists in the
cache, the flow statistics are updated.
4. If a new flow is detected and the maximum number of entries are already in the flow cache, the
earliest expiry entry is removed. The earliest expiry entry/flow is the next flow that will expire
due to the active or inactive timer expiration.
5. If a flow has been inactive for a period of time equal to or greater then the inactive timer
(default 15 seconds), then the entry is removed from the flow cache.
6. If a flow has been active for a period of time equal to or greater than the active timer (default
30 minutes), then the entry is removed from the flow cache.
7450 ESS Router Configuration Guide
depicts the basic operation of the cflowd feature. This sample flow is only used to
SAMPLE?
DROP ?
copy of header sent to cflowd
drop
HEADER
INFORMATION
PROCESSED
AND FLOW CACHE
UPDATED

Figure 22: Basic Cflowd Steps

FINISH FORWARDING
PROCESS AND SEND
TO EGRESS PORT
NEW OR
new
EXISTING
flow
FLOW
?
existing flow
UPDATE
ENTRY
Cflowd
EGRESS PORT
ADD ENTRY
EXPORT
FLOW CACHE
TO
COLLECTOR
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