Abstract: A method for generating an application-aware virtual topology (AAVT) routing table for a network device among network devices connected via a wide area network is provided. The method is executed by a network controller connected to the network and includes: receiving, from the network devices, path information of the network devices; generating, using the path information, an underlay graph specifying a path topology of the network device; generating, based on the path topology specified in the underlay graph, the AAVT routing table for the network device where the AAVT routing table includes a set of paths; and transmitting, in response to generating the AAVT routing table, the AAVT routing table to the network device to cause the network device to program the set of paths.

Abstract: A method for servicing network traffic in a wide area network (WAN) comprising a plurality of network devices is provided. The method is executed by a network device among the plurality of network devices and comprises: receiving a request to transmit the network traffic to a destination network device where the request specifies that the network traffic is to be serviced by a network service; determining, based on the request and using a service-aware virtual topology (SAVT) routing table, a path through the WAN for reaching the network service and a service instance identifier (ID) of the network service; configuring the network traffic to include a service bit indicating whether service is to be performed and instructions specifying the path for reaching the network service; and transmitting, after configuring the network traffic, the network traffic toward the destination device through the at least one network service.

Abstract: A network element and method for programming a network element that includes detecting an update to a first route in a routing information base (RIB) is disclosed. The method includes locating a first route network prefix associated with the first route within a network prefix trie (NPT); determining that, prior to the update, a first parent network prefix and the first route network prefix were reachable using a pair of different next hops connected to the network element; and determining that, after the update, the first parent network prefix and the first route network prefix are reachable using a first common next hop connected to the network element. The method also includes removing an existing forwarding information base (FIB) entry in the FIB associated with the first route network prefix.

Abstract: A method for obtaining, by a first network device of a pair of network devices, a packet, wherein the packet specifies a source address corresponding to a first client device and a destination address corresponding to a second client device, making a first determination, by the first network device and using the source address and the destination address, that the first network device is not an owner of bidirectional traffic associated with the packet, based on the first determination, transmitting, by the first network device, the packet to a second network device of the pair of network devices, making a second determination, by the second network device, that the second network device is the owner of bidirectional traffic associated with the packet, performing, in response to the second determination and by the second network device, data processing on the packet to generate a processing result.

Abstract: A network element and method for programming a network element that includes detecting an update to a first route in a routing information base (RIB) is disclosed. The method includes locating a first route network prefix associated with the first route within a network prefix trie (NPT); determining that, prior to the update, a first parent network prefix and the first route network prefix were reachable using a pair of different next hops connected to the network element; and determining that, after the update, the first parent network prefix and the first route network prefix are reachable using a first common next hop connected to the network element. The method also includes removing an existing forwarding information base (FIB) entry in the FIB associated with the first route network prefix.

Abstract: A method for transmitting network traffic across a wide area network (WAN) from a first site to a second site is provided. The method is executed by a first edge network device at the first site that further includes a second edge network device, and the method includes: receiving the network traffic from a client device at the first site; determining, using ipath characteristics and a classification of the network traffic, that the network traffic should be transmitted by the second edge network device to the second site; forwarding in response to the determination, the network traffic to the second edge network device using a local tunnel over a local area network (LAN) of the first site such that the network traffic is transmitted to the second site by the second edge network device.

Abstract: In general, embodiments relates to a method for creating an on-demand tunnel (ODT) in a network between a first network device and a second network device, the method comprising: storing by the first network device, a a potentially suboptimal path to the second network device, determining that a trigger condition to create the ODT between the first network device and the second network device is satisfied, in response to the determination: transmitting, by the first network device, an ODT signaling packet to the second network device via the potentially suboptimal path, receiving, from the second network device and in response to transmitting the ODT signaling packet, an ODT keepalive by first network device via the ODT, and transmitting, after receiving the ODT keepalive, a second packet to the second network device via the ODT.

Abstract: A method for servicing network traffic in a wide area network (WAN) comprising a plurality of network devices is provided. The method is executed by a network device among the plurality of network devices and comprises: receiving a request to transmit the network traffic to a destination network device where the request specifies that the network traffic is to be serviced by a network service; determining, based on the request and using a service-aware virtual topology (SAVT) routing table, a path through the WAN for reaching the network service and a service instance identifier (ID) of the network service; configuring the network traffic to include a service bit indicating whether service is to be performed and instructions specifying the path for reaching the network service; and transmitting, after configuring the network traffic, the network traffic toward the destination device through the at least one network service.

Abstract: A network element and method for programming a network element that includes detecting an update to a first route in a routing information base (RIB) is disclosed. The method includes locating a first route network prefix associated with the first route within a network prefix trie (NPT); determining that, prior to the update, a first parent network prefix and the first route network prefix were reachable using a pair of different next hops connected to the network element; and determining that, after the update, the first parent network prefix and the first route network prefix are reachable using a first common next hop connected to the network element. The method also includes removing an existing forwarding information base (FIB) entry in the FIB associated with the first route network prefix.

Abstract: A method for generating an application-aware virtual topology (AAVT) routing table for a network device among network devices connected via a wide area network is provided. The method is executed by a network controller connected to the network and includes: receiving, from the network devices, path information of the network devices; generating, using the path information, an underlay graph specifying a path topology of the network device; generating, based on the path topology specified in the underlay graph, the AAVT routing table for the network device where the AAVT routing table includes a set of paths; and transmitting, in response to generating the AAVT routing table, the AAVT routing table to the network device to cause the network device to program the set of paths.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of a network element that processes changes to forwarding information is described. In an exemplary embodiment, the network element receives an indication of a change to a network topology of the network. The network element forwarding information includes a first plurality of prefixes and a plurality of adjacencies and each of the first plurality of prefixes references one of the plurality of adjacencies. In addition, in response to receiving the indication of the change to the network topology, the network element identifies a change to the plurality of adjacencies. Furthermore, the network element updates, in-place, the plurality of adjacencies in-place with the change to the plurality adjacencies.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of a network element that processes changes to forwarding information is described. In an exemplary embodiment, the network element receives an indication of a change to a network topology of the network. The network element forwarding information includes a first plurality of prefixes and a plurality of adjacencies and each of the first plurality of prefixes references one of the plurality of adjacencies. In addition, in response to receiving the indication of the change to the network topology, the network element identifies a change to the plurality of adjacencies. Furthermore, the network element updates, in-place, the plurality of adjacencies in-place with the change to the plurality adjacencies.

Abstract: In general, the invention relates to a method for programming a network element. The method includes detecting an addition of a first route in a routing information base (RIB) on the network element, adding, in response to detecting the addition, a first route network prefix associated with the first route to a network prefix trie (NPT), identifying, based on the adding, a first parent network prefix for the first route network prefix using the NPT, making a first determination that the first route network prefix and the first parent network prefix are reachable via a first common next hop connected to the network element, and waiving, based on the first determination, a creation of a forwarding information base (FIB) entry associated with the first route network prefix in a FIB on the network element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of a network element that processes changes to forwarding information is described. In an exemplary embodiment, the network element receives an indication of a change to a network topology of the network. The network element forwarding information includes a first plurality of prefixes and a plurality of adjacencies and each of the first plurality of prefixes references one of the plurality of adjacencies. In addition, in response to receiving the indication of the change to the network topology, the network element identifies a change to the plurality of adjacencies. Furthermore, the network element updates, in-place, the plurality of adjacencies in-place with the change to the plurality adjacencies.

Abstract: In general, the invention relates to a method for programming a network element. The method includes detecting an addition of a first route in a routing information base (RIB) on the network element, adding, in response to detecting the addition, a first route network prefix associated with the first route to a network prefix trie (NPT), identifying, based on the adding, a first parent network prefix for the first route network prefix using the NPT, making a first determination that the first route network prefix and the first parent network prefix are reachable via a first common next hop connected to the network element, and waiving, based on the first determination, a creation of a forwarding information base (FIB) entry associated with the first route network prefix in a FIB on the network element.

Abstract: In general, embodiments relate to a method for processing packets in a network. The method includes receiving, by a first network element, a route comprising a first loopback address (LBA) associated with a second network element, and a loopback network layer reachability information (loopback NLRI) specifying the LBA and a plurality of interfaces on the second network element associated with the LBA. The method further includes receiving, by the first network element, a packet, making a first determination that the LBA is a next hop for the packet, based on the first determination, selecting a first interface of the plurality of interfaces, transmitting the packet towards the first interface.

Abstract: In general, embodiments relate to a method for processing packets in a network. The method includes receiving, by a first network element, a route comprising a first loopback address (LBA) associated with a second network element, and a loopback network layer reachability information (loopback NLRI) specifying the LBA and a plurality of interfaces on the second network element associated with the LBA. The method further includes receiving, by the first network element, a packet, making a first determination that the LBA is a next hop for the packet, based on the first determination, selecting a first interface of the plurality of interfaces, transmitting the packet towards the first interface.

Abstract: In general, the invention relates to a method for programming a network element. The method includes detecting an addition of a first route in a routing information base (RIB) on the network element, adding, in response to detecting the addition, a first route network prefix associated with the first route to a network prefix trie (NPT), identifying, based on the adding, a first parent network prefix for the first route network prefix using the NPT, making a first determination that the first route network prefix and the first parent network prefix are reachable via a first common next hop connected to the network element, and waiving, based on the first determination, a creation of a forwarding information base (FIB) entry associated with the first route network prefix in a FIB on the network element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of a network element that processes changes to forwarding information is described. In an exemplary embodiment, the network element receives an indication of a change to a network topology of the network. The network element forwarding information includes a first plurality of prefixes and a plurality of adjacencies and each of the first plurality of prefixes references one of the plurality of adjacencies. In addition, in response to receiving the indication of the change to the network topology, the network element identifies a change to the plurality of adjacencies. Furthermore, the network element updates, in-place, the plurality of adjacencies in-place with the change to the plurality adjacencies.