Abstract: A method includes a first firewall device performing a firewall function on a first redundant input data packet and outputting the first redundant input data packet as a first redundant output data packet according to the firewall function. A second firewall device performs only the same firewall function on a second redundant input data packet and outputs the second redundant input data packet as a second redundant output data packet according to the firewall function. The redundant output data packets are at least substantially similar when the firewall devices are functioning properly. A controller receives the redundant output data packets and transmits at a given time one of the redundant output data packets to a target. The controller transmits the first redundant output data packet to the target while the second device is failed.

Abstract: A system includes first and second firewalls and a controller. The first firewall is configured to perform a firewall function on a first redundant input data packet and output the first input packet as a first redundant output data packet according to the firewall function. The second firewall is configured to perform the firewall function on a second redundant input data packet and output the second input packet as a second redundant output data packet according to the firewall function. The output packets are at least substantially similar when the firewall devices function properly. The controller is configured to receive the output packets from the firewalls, transmit at a given time one of the output packets, transmit the first output packet while the second firewall is failed, and transmit the second output packet while the first firewall is failed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to manage network transport paths in accordance with network policies are disclosed. An example apparatus comprises a policy manager to manage a first policy for a first endpoint and a second policy for a second endpoint, and a path manager to provision a transport network path based on the first and second policies.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to manage network transport paths in accordance with network policies are disclosed. An example apparatus comprises a policy manager to manage a first policy for a first endpoint and a second policy for a second endpoint, and a path manager to provision a transport network path based on the first and second policies.

Abstract: A network element, network switch, and/or a network element includes a control layer implemented over a physical layer. The network element, switch, and/or manager includes firmware to support particular processing to automate the establishment, modification, and/or deletion of communication links within the communication network, which includes processing that begins by generating a network manager command regarding a communication link between a 1st port and a 2nd port of the communication network. Upon receiving the command, the affiliated network element determines the type of network manager command and, when the network manager command is a command to establish a link, determines a network path between the 1st port and the 2nd port. Next, the affiliated network element generates a network element command regarding the link between the 1st and 2nd ports based on the determined network path and provides the network element command to the next network element in the determined network path.

Abstract: A SONET network element or network switch includes a control layer implemented over a physical layer to automate the establishment, modification, and/or deletion of communication links within the communication network. In general, the network element may include firmware to support processing that begins by receiving a link command and determining the type of link command. When the type of link command is to establish a connection, the processing continues by determining whether the network element is a termination node of the communication link. When the network element is not a termination node of the communication link, the processing continues by determining an optimal path for the communication link via a plurality of network elements of the communication network. The processing continues by determining the type of path to the adjacent network element of the plurality of network elements.