Abstract: A method supporting distributed resilient network interconnect (DRNI) in a link aggregation group at a network device is disclosed. The method starts with encapsulating a distributed relay control protocol data unit (DRCPDU) in a frame, wherein the DRCPDU includes a protocol data unit (PDU) structure. The PDU structure includes a type field indicating that the DRCPDU is for DRCP, a version field indicating a version number of the DRCP, and a set of type/length/values (TLVs) including: a terminator TLV indicating an end of the PDU structure, a portal information TLV indicating characteristics of the first portal, a portal configuration information TLV indicating configuration information of the first portal, a DRCP state TLV indicating variables associated with an intra-portal link (IPP), a home ports information TLV and a neighbor ports information TLV. The method continues with transmitting the frame encapsulating the DRCPDU from the network device to a neighbor network device.

Abstract: A method that is implemented by a network device for enabling provisioning of explicit paths in a network across a link aggregation group (LAG) by reporting LAG configuration information for a plurality of links between the network device and at least one neighbor device, the LAG configuration information sent to a path computation element (PCE). The method reports the LAG configuration information for a LAG by a LAG module to an intermediate system to intermediate system (IS-IS) module within the network device, sends the LAG configuration information in a sub type length value (TLV) within an intermediate system to intermediate system (IS-IS) message to the PCE, and receives from the PCE an explicit path that selects a link in the LAG.

Abstract: A technique for status change handling in an interconnect node is described, wherein the node comprises a data plane that can assume, per service, a passive or active status. A method aspect in the node comprises transmitting, to another node, a first indication that a change has been or is about to be performed, awaiting, from the other node, reception of a second indication that the data plane in the other node has been set to the passive status, and activating, responsive to the received indication, the data plane of the node from the passive status to the active status. The method aspect in the other node further comprises receiving, from the node, the first indication, passivating, responsive to the receiving step, the data plane being in the active status to the passive status, and transmitting, upon completion of the passivating step, the second indication.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for operating a virtual node in a LAG that includes a first virtual node and a second virtual node are disclosed. The first virtual node includes at least a first fellow node and a second fellow node. In one exemplary method, the first fellow node receives, from the second virtual node, first control information comprising a system ID and first configuration information associated with the LAG. The first control information is compared with reference configuration information representing previously established expected configuration information associated with the LAG. Based on that comparison, and at least one additional criterion, a split brain condition may be determined to exist in the LAG. In a complementary fashion, a fellow node of the second virtual node may be configured to alter its transmitted configuration information depending on whether it is able to communicate with its fellow node in the second virtual node.

Abstract: A method supporting distributed resilient network interconnect (DRNI) in a link aggregation group at a network device is disclosed. The method starts with encapsulating a distributed relay control protocol data unit (DRCPDU) in a frame, wherein the DRCPDU includes a protocol data unit (PDU) structure. The PDU structure includes a type field indicating that the DRCPDU is for DRCP, a version field indicating a version number of the DRCP, and a set of type/length/values (TLVs) including: a terminator TLV indicating an end of the PDU structure, a portal information TLV indicating characteristics of the first portal, a portal configuration information TLV indicating configuration information of the first portal, a DRCP state TLV indicating variables associated with an intra-portal link (IPP), a home ports information TLV and a neighbor ports information TLV. The method continues with transmitting the frame encapsulating the DRCPDU from the network device to a neighbor network device.

Abstract: A method of updating conversation allocation in link aggregation is disclosed. The method starts with verifying that an implementation of a conversation-sensitive link aggregation control protocol (LACP) is operational at a network device of a network for an aggregation port. Then it is determined that operations through enhanced link aggregation control protocol data units (LACPDUs) are possible. The enhanced LACPDUs can be used for updating conversation allocation information, and the determination is based at least partially on a compatibility check between a first set of operational parameters of the network device and a second set of operational parameters of a partner network device. Then a conversation allocation state of an aggregation port of the link aggregation group is updated based on a determination that the conversation allocation state is incorrect, where the conversation allocation state indicates a list of conversations transmitting through the aggregation port.

Abstract: A method supporting distributed resilient network interconnect (DRNI) in a link aggregation group at a network device is disclosed. The method starts with encapsulating a distributed relay control protocol data unit (DRCPDU) in a frame, wherein the DRCPDU includes a protocol data unit (PDU) structure. The PDU structure includes a type field indicating that the DRCPDU is for DRCP, a version field indicating a version number of the DRCP, and a set of type/length/values (TLVs) including: a terminator TLV indicating an end of the PDU structure, a portal information TLV indicating characteristics of the first portal, a portal configuration information TLV indicating configuration information of the first portal, a DRCP state TLV indicating variables associated with an intra-portal link (IPP), a home ports information TLV and a neighbor ports information TLV. The method continues with transmitting the frame encapsulating the DRCPDU from the network device to a neighbor network device.

Abstract: A method of configuring a set of conversation identifiers (IDs) at a network device in a distributed resilient network interconnect (DRNI) of a link aggregation group is disclosed. The method starts with initializing the set of conversation IDs, wherein the initialization includes setting entries of a Boolean vector associated with the set of conversation IDs to be a sequence of zeroes, and wherein the Boolean vector includes values indicating processing the set of conversation IDs through the single gateway or the single aggregator of the network device. The method continues with determining that distribution of the set of conversation IDs needs to be updated, setting values of an operational vector indexed by the conversation IDs, and setting values of the Boolean vector, wherein the Boolean vector lists whether the single gateway or the single aggregator of the network device is associated with each of the conversation IDs.

Abstract: A method that is implemented by a network device for enabling provisioning of explicit paths in a network across a link aggregation group (LAG) by reporting LAG configuration information for a plurality of links between the network device and at least one neighbor device, the LAG configuration information sent to a path computation element (PCE). The method reports the LAG configuration information for a LAG by a LAG module to an intermediate system to intermediate system (IS-IS) module within the network device, sends the LAG configuration information in a sub type length value (TLV) within an intermediate system to intermediate system (IS-IS) message to the PCE, and receives from the PCE an explicit path that selects a link in the LAG.

Abstract: A process is implemented by a network device for enabling the provisioning of explicit trees in a network by reporting link aggregation group (LAG) configuration information to a path computation element (PCE). The network device implements a LAG module and an intermediate system-intermediate system (IS-IS) module that includes an IS-IS path control and reservation module (ISIS-PCR). The process includes reporting LAG configuration by the LAG module to the IS-IS module within the network device, sending a link state protocol data unit (PDU) (LSP) with the LAG configuration in a LAG sub type length value (TLV) by the ISIS-PCR, receiving, by the IS-IS module, an explicit tree that specifies at least one virtual local area network (VLAN) identifier (VID) to an aggregation link of the LAG assignment, and translating, by the ISIS-PCR module, the explicit tree into a LAG configuration, the LAG configuration specifying a conversation to aggregation link assignment.

Abstract: A method supporting network and intra-portal link (IPL) sharing in a link aggregation group at a network device is disclosed. The method starts with transmitting frames on the IPL at the network device, where the physical link or aggregation link of the link aggregation group is dedicated to the IPL. The network device determines that the network device is configured with a network and IPL sharing method that is consistent with the neighbor network device, the network and IPL sharing method including sharing by at least one of time, tag, and encapsulation, where the network and IPL sharing method indicates sharing of the physical link or link aggregation between frames for the IPL and frames for another IPL or a network link of the link aggregation group. Then the network device transmits the frames between the network device and the neighbor network device using the network and IPL sharing method.

Abstract: A method supporting a distributed resilient network interconnect (DRNI) in a link aggregation group at a network device is disclosed. The method starts with receiving a distributed relay control protocol data unit (DRCPDU), where the DRCPDU includes neighbor network device's state information and configuration information, wherein the configuration information includes its operational aggregation key, gateway digest, port digest. The method continue with determine whether or not the received configuration information is different from the one of the network device and how, and causing the next DRCPDU to be transmitted to the neighbor network device to include or not include certain information accordingly.

Abstract: A method of supporting a distributed resilient network interconnect (DRNI) at a network device is disclosed. The method starts with initializing the network device for operating distributed resilient control protocol (DRCP) on an intra-portal port (IPP) coupled to a neighbor network device using an intra-port link (IPL). The method continues with the network device checking that DRCP is enabled at the IPP and then enters an expired state. The network device then receives a DRCPDU and determines that the received DRCPDU is associated with the first portal it is assigned to. It determines that the received DRCPDU is compatible with the network device, and records neighbor network device's state information included in the received DRCPDU as state operational variables of the neighbor network device at the network device, wherein the neighbor network device's state information includes DRCP variables for the IPP.

Abstract: A method of supporting service chaining at a network device of a data network is disclosed. The data network offers a set of services associated with a set of network devices, where subscribers of the data network are served by chains of one or more services. The method starts upon receiving a frame, and the network device selects a chain of one or more services for the frame to be processed by the data network. The network device encapsulates the frame with a reflected frame message (RFM) header, the RFM header containing source information associated with the network device, destination information associated with an immediate next service for the frame to be processed, an operation code indicating the frame being an RFM frame. Then the network device sends the encapsulated frame out of the network device according to the destination information of the encapsulated frame.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for operating a virtual node in a LAG that includes a first virtual node and a second virtual node are disclosed. The first virtual node includes at least a first fellow node and a second fellow node. In one exemplary method, the first fellow node receives, from the second virtual node, first control information comprising a system ID and first configuration information associated with the LAG. The first control information is compared with reference configuration information representing previously established expected configuration information associated with the LAG. Based on that comparison, and at least one additional criterion, a split brain condition may be determined to exist in the LAG. In a complementary fashion, a fellow node of the second virtual node may be configured to alter its transmitted configuration information depending on whether it is able to communicate with its fellow node in the second virtual node.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for operating a virtual node in a LAG that includes a first virtual node and a second virtual node are disclosed. The first virtual node includes at least a first fellow node and a second fellow node. In one exemplary method, the first fellow node receives, from the second virtual node, first control information comprising a system ID and first configuration information associated with the LAG. The first control information is compared with reference configuration information representing previously established expected configuration information associated with the LAG. Based on that comparison, and at least one additional criterion, a split brain condition may be determined to exist in the LAG. In a complementary fashion, a fellow node of the second virtual node may be configured to alter its transmitted configuration information depending on whether it is able to communicate with its fellow node in the second virtual node.

Abstract: A method supporting a distributed resilient network interconnect (DRNI) in a link aggregation group at a network device is disclosed. The method starts with receiving a distributed relay control protocol data unit (DRCPDU), where the DRCPDU includes neighbor network device's state information and configuration information, wherein the configuration information includes its operational aggregation key, gateway digest, port digest. The method continue with determine whether or not the received configuration information is different from the one of the network device and how, and causing the next DRCPDU to be transmitted to the neighbor network device to include or not include certain information accordingly.

Abstract: A process is implemented by a network device for enabling the provisioning of explicit trees in a network by reporting link aggregation group (LAG) configuration information to a path computation element (PCE). The network device implements a LAG module and an intermediate system-intermediate system (IS-IS) module that includes an IS-IS path control and reservation module (ISIS-PCR). The process includes reporting LAG configuration by the LAG module to the IS-IS module within the network device, sending a link state protocol data unit (PDU) (LSP) with the LAG configuration in a LAG sub type length value (TLV) by the ISIS-PCR, receiving, by the IS-IS module, an explicit tree that specifies at least one virtual local area network (VLAN) identifier (VID) to an aggregation link of the LAG assignment, and translating, by the ISIS-PCR module, the explicit tree into a LAG configuration, the LAG configuration specifying a conversation to aggregation link assignment.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a technique for ensuring that a service or conversation is carried in a congruent manner on a Link Aggregation Group (LAG). The Service ID (e.g., conversation ID) to link mapping is configured on both sides of the LAG independently of each other. The Service ID to link assignment is stored in a well-defined format, e.g. in an assignment table. A digest is then prepared on the assignment table. The digest is exchanged between the two sides of the LAG. If there is a mismatch between the digests, then the service is transmitted on a predefined and agreed-upon default link if congruency has to be enforced for that particular service. Furthermore, the digest exchange allows verification on the configuration to check whether all services to be handed-off are configured on both sides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method in an Ethernet ring for protecting the Ethernet ring from a superloop going through the Ethernet ring, wherein the Ethernet ring comprises at least one ring node and two interface nodes between the Ethernet ring and a VPLS-domain, the Ethernet ring further comprises a ring protection link, the method comprises the steps of: receiving in one of the interface nodes a withdrawal message intended to indicate that the other interface node is malfunctioning, the method being further characterized by the further step of; maintaining said ring protection link in the Ethernet ring in response to the withdrawal message.