Abstract: An embodiment of a method and apparatus for synchronizing routing protocol information associated with a plurality of routing modules of a network element is disclosed herein. The method includes an operation for adding an additional routing module to a network element. The network element includes an existing routing module having an existing collection of routing protocol information associated therewith. In response to adding the additional routing module to the network element, an operation is performed for imparting the existing collection of routing protocol information upon the additional routing module. After updating the existing routing module with such new routing protocol information, an operation is performed for updating the additional routing module with such new routing protocol information.

Abstract: A technique for operating a network involves controlling the black-holing of traffic by selectively redirecting unicast traffic destined for a dual-homed customer equipment (CE) device from a first provider backbone bridge (PBB) provider edge (PE) device to a second PBB PE device in response to a service failure. Unicast traffic is selectively redirected from the first PBB PE device to the second PBB PE device for a time interval that is long enough to enable the customer source MAC address (CMAC)-to-backbone MAC address (BMAC) association of the second PBB PE device to be learned by other PBB PE devices.

Abstract: An embodiment of a method and apparatus for synchronizing communication tasks (e.g., transmission control protocol (TCP) tasks) for redundancy in a network element is disclosed herein. The method includes an operation for receiving an inbound TCP packet at a TCP task of an active routing module of a network element. An operation is performed for queuing a first copy of the inbound TCP packet in a receive queue of the active routing module. After queuing the first copy of the inbound TCP packet, an operation is performed for forwarding a second copy of the inbound TCP packet to an inactive routing module of the network element. After receiving the second copy of the inbound TCP packet, an operation is performed for queuing the second copy of the inbound TCP packet in a receive queue of the inactive routing module.

Abstract: A technique for operating a network involves controlling the black-holing of traffic by forcing customer source MAC address (CMAC)-to-backbone source MAC address (BMAC) associations at provider backbone bridge (PBB) provider edge (PE) devices to be flushed from their corresponding forwarding information bases (FIBs) in response to a service failure so that new CMAC-to-BMAC associations, which are reflective of a secondary traffic path, are learned faster than they would otherwise be learned if the network had relied on native functionality to learn new CMAC-to-BMAC associations that are reflective of the secondary traffic path.

Abstract: A technique for operating a network involves controlling the black-holing of traffic by forcing customer source MAC address (CMAC)-to-backbone source MAC address (BMAC) associations at provider backbone bridge (PBB) provider edge (PE) devices to be flushed from their corresponding forwarding information bases (FIBs) in response to a service failure so that new CMAC-to-BMAC associations, which are reflective of a secondary traffic path, are learned faster than they would otherwise be learned if the network had relied on native functionality to learn new CMAC-to-BMAC associations that are reflective of the secondary traffic path.

Abstract: A technique for operating a network involves controlling the black-holing of traffic by selectively redirecting unicast traffic destined for a dual-homed customer equipment (CE) device from a first provider backbone bridge (PBB) provider edge (PE) device to a second PBB PE device in response to a service failure. Unicast traffic is selectively redirected from the first PBB PE device to the second PBB PE device for a time interval that is long enough to enable the customer source MAC address (CMAC)-to-backbone MAC address (BMAC) association of the second PBB PE device to be learned by other PBB PE devices.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for facilitating an activity switch between a plurality of redundant routing modules in a network element is disclosed. Lower layer protocol packets, each encapsulating a higher layer protocol packet, are received at a lower layer task of a first routing module. The method first determines a peer network element In response to failure of a higher layer protocol task of the first routing module. The higher layer and lower layer protocol sessions between a second routing module and the peer network element are terminated following the determination of the peer network element, wherein the second routing module functions as a backup of the first routing module. The method then initiates a switchover from the first routing module to the second routing module of the network element.

Abstract: An embodiment of a method and apparatus for synchronizing routing protocol information associated with a plurality of routing modules of a network element is disclosed herein. The method includes an operation for adding an additional routing module to a network element. The network element includes an existing routing module having an existing collection of routing protocol information associated therewith. In response to adding the additional routing module to the network element, an operation is performed for imparting the existing collection of routing protocol information upon the additional routing module. After updating the existing routing module with such new routing protocol information, an operation is performed for updating the additional routing module with such new routing protocol information.

Abstract: An embodiment of a method and apparatus for facilitating an activity switch between a plurality of redundant routing modules is a network element is disclosed herein. The method includes an operation for receiving a lower layer protocol packet at a lower layer task of a first routing module. The lower layer protocol packet includes a higher layer protocol packet encapsulated therein. An operation is performed for determining a peer network element from which the lower layer protocol packet was received. The operation for determining a peer network element from which the lower layer protocol packet was received is performed in response to failure of a higher layer protocol task of the first routing module while processing the higher layer protocol packet.

Abstract: An embodiment of a method and apparatus for synchronizing communication tasks (e.g., transmission control protocol (TCP) tasks) for redundancy in a network element is disclosed herein. The method includes an operation for receiving an inbound TCP packet at a TCP task of an active routing module of a network element. An operation is performed for queuing a first copy of the inbound TCP packet in a receive queue of the active routing module. After queuing the first copy of the inbound TCP packet, an operation is performed for forwarding a second copy of the inbound TCP packet to an inactive routing module of the network element. After receiving the second copy of the inbound TCP packet, an operation is performed for queuing the second copy of the inbound TCP packet in a receive queue of the inactive routing module.