Abstract: A packet switch is described. In one embodiment, the packet switch comprises a plurality of ingress ports for receiving packets at the packet switch and for appending a tag to each packet that designates one of the plurality of ingress ports that received the packet; a plurality of egress ports for removing the tag from the packets and transmitting the packets from the packet switch; and switch fabric for switching the packets from one of the plurality of ingress ports to one of the plurality of egress ports.

Abstract: A network (e.g., RSTP-based network) and method are described herein that can selectively eliminate latencies in the exchange of to-be-transmitted control messages (e.g., BPDUs) between bridges during the re/convergence of the network. The method includes a step of classifying to-be-transmitted control messages as either low-priority control messages or high-priority control messages. The method also has a step of limiting the transmission rate of the low-priority control messages in accordance with a traditional IEEE 802.1 RSTP. And, the method also includes a step of immediately transmitting the high-priority control messages that contain information that contributes to the re/convergence of the network.

Abstract: Customer virtual local area networks (C-VLANs) connecting multiple LAN segments are set up through a provider network (12). Provider edge bridges (PEs) are coupled to customer edge bridges (CEs) to provide a transparent link between LAN segments. To determine whether a backdoor link is used in the C-VLAN topology, PEs monitor MAC address from a predetermined time after a TCN is received to determine if there are contradictory addresses or new addresses relative to the existing MAC address tables (or forwarding databases) that are indicative of a backdoor link. If so, an unlearning message is sent to bridges in the provider domain. In another embodiment, CEs set a snoop bit to indicate which TCNs must be snooped.

Abstract: A system and method of implementing Routing Stability-Based Integrated Traffic Engineering (“RITE”) for use in an MPLS/optical network is described. Incoming network traffic is classified as high priority (“HP”), which requires absolute routing stability, or low priority (“LP”), which can tolerate limited rerouting. In accordance with one embodiment, HP traffic trunks are mapped on to direct LCs and are rerouted only in the event of an LC teardown due to poor traffic utilization. LP traffic trunks are mapped on to direct LCs if available; otherwise, they are mapped on to multi-hop LSPs with appropriate O/E/O conversions at the edge nodes serving as intermediate hops. Each LP traffic trunk is associated with a rerouting timer that is set at the time of rerouting so as to prevent another rerouting of the trunk until the timer expires.