Abstract: The techniques disclosed herein improve existing systems by receiving, by a packet processor from a control node of the communications network, a request to program operations for processing data packets, the request received with opaque data comprising a state of the control node. The packet processor stores the operations and the opaque data in a data store of the packet processor. The packet processor receives from the control node a subsequent request to retrieve the opaque data. The packet processor sends to the control node the operations and the opaque data that were stored in the data store of the packet processor. The opaque data is not stored in the control node.

Abstract: The techniques disclosed herein improve existing systems by receiving, by a packet processor from a control node of the communications network, a request to program operations for processing data packets, the request received with opaque data comprising a state of the control node. The packet processor stores the operations and the opaque data in a data store of the packet processor. The packet processor receives from the control node a subsequent request to retrieve the opaque data. The packet processor sends to the control node the operations and the opaque data that were stored in the data store of the packet processor. The opaque data is not stored in the control node.

Abstract: The techniques disclosed herein improve existing systems by receiving a packet to process and determining an associated packet processing graph for the packet. In response to determining that the associated packet processing graph contains an action comprising a set of rules for modifying the packet processing graph, a table to modify in the packet processing graph is accessed based on a table identifier in the action. The accessed table is modified by inserting one or more table rows into the packet processing graph and for each inserted table row, inserting a set of template actions containing prepopulated fields. The modified table is used to process subsequent packets.

Abstract: The techniques disclosed herein improve existing systems by receiving, by a packet processor from a control node of the communications network, a request to program operations for processing data packets, the request received with opaque data comprising a state of the control node. The packet processor stores the operations and the opaque data in a data store of the packet processor. The packet processor receives from the control node a subsequent request to retrieve the opaque data. The packet processor sends to the control node the operations and the opaque data that were stored in the data store of the packet processor. The opaque data is not stored in the control node.

Abstract: Measures, including methods, systems and computer program products, for use in processing route data in a network comprising a plurality of autonomous systems. At a network device, route data defining at least one route for network traffic which is configured on at least one border network device is received from the at least one border network device. The at least one border network device is located at a border of an autonomous system in the plurality of autonomous systems. The network device processes the received route data according to a set of policies to generate modified route data. The network device transmits at least a part of the modified route data to the at least one border network device. The at least part of the modified route data is operable to instruct the at least one border network device to modify the behavior of the at least one route.

Abstract: Traffic is transferred between a first consumer network node and a second consumer network node via a local connection established at a first service provider network node. The first service provider network node is connected to the first consumer network node via a first attachment circuit, and to the second network consumer node via a second attachment circuit. A loss in connectivity is detected between the first consumer network node and the second consumer network node via the local connection, and in response, traffic is transferred between the first consumer network node and the second consumer network node via a remote connection. The remote connection includes a pseudowire established between the first service provider network node and a second service provider network node. The second consumer network node is connected to the second service provider network node via a third attachment circuit.

Abstract: Measures, including methods, systems and computer program products, for use in processing route data in a network comprising a plurality of autonomous systems. At a network device, route data defining at least one route for network traffic which is configured on at least one border network device is received from the at least one border network device. The at least one border network device is located at a border of an autonomous system in the plurality of autonomous systems. The network device processes the received route data according to a set of policies to generate modified route data. The network device transmits at least a part of the modified route data to the at least one border network device. The at least part of the modified route data is operable to instruct the at least one border network device to modify the behavior of the at least one route.

Abstract: Traffic is transferred between a first consumer network node and a second consumer network node via a local connection established at a first service provider network node. The first service provider network node is connected to the first consumer network node via a first attachment circuit, and to the second network consumer node via a second attachment circuit. A loss in connectivity is detected between the first consumer network node and the second consumer network node via the local connection, and in response, traffic is transferred between the first consumer network node and the second consumer network node via a remote connection. The remote connection includes a pseudowire established between the first service provider network node and a second service provider network node. The second consumer network node is connected to the second service provider network node via a third attachment circuit.