Abstract: A first switch at a first edge of an MPLS network establishes a VPLS pseudo-wire over a plurality of label switched paths (LSPs) of the MPLS network that couple the first switch to a second switch at a second edge of the MPLS network. The first switch further load balances data to be transmitted across the VPLS pseudo-wire over the plurality of LSPs. The first switch accomplishes this by maintaining at a first table an indication that the VPLS pseudo-wire traffic is to be transmitted over the plurality of LSPs and further identifying in the first table a pointer to a second table maintaining a plurality of LSP entries corresponding to the respective plurality of LSPs. The first switch then identifies at the second table a pointer to a third table maintaining a plurality of entries, wherein each of the plurality of entries identifies a next hop index.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for distributing load in a network. A set of routers are configured for providing IP gateway services to a set of hosts where each router in the set of routers all back up all the other routers in the same set. Each router in the set utilizes identical load distribution policies, load distribution properties and load distribution arrangement. A Load Distribution Function (LDF) master router is determined for the set of routers, wherein each one of the set of routers is a backup for the LDF master router. Every router in the set of routers utilize the same algorithm to compute load distribution and the LDF master router provides balancing information to all the other routers by including that information in VRRP advertisement messages to all the routers.

Abstract: A packet switched node (router), a queuing system and a method for queuing packets are described herein that use tags and manipulate counters in a manner that eliminates the reordering of the packets after a Quality of Service (QoS) class had been altered in one or more of the packets.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a router (e.g., intermediate router) and a method that queues and services an upgraded/downgraded packet and a plurality of other packets all of which are part of a flow in a manner that eliminates the reordering of the packets. In one embodiment, the router and method queues and services the packets by handing-off a token from an upgraded/downgraded packet to a head-of-line packet which is forwarded to a downstream router. In another embodiment, the router and method queues and services the packets without handing-off a token from an upgraded/downgraded packet to a head-of-line packet which is forwarded to a downstream router.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pair of routers which implement an active VRRP group and one or more passive VRRP groups wherein the active VRRP group executes the VRRP election protocol and the passive VRRP group(s) do not execute the VRRP election protocol but instead the passive VRRP group(s) mimic the active VRRP group such that when the active VRRP group has a state change then all of it's dependent passive VRRP group(s) will also have the same state change such as becoming a master or a backup.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for distributing load in a network. A set of routers are configured for providing IP gateway services to a set of hosts where each router in the set of routers all back up all the other routers in the same set. Each router in the set utilizes identical load distribution policies, load distribution properties and load distribution arrangement. A Load Distribution Function (LDF) master router is determined for the set of routers, wherein each one of the set of routers is a backup for the LDF master router. Every router in the set of routers utilize the same algorithm to compute load distribution and the LDF master router provides balancing information to all the other routers by including that information in VRRP advertisement messages to all the routers.

Abstract: A packet switched node (router), a queuing system and a method for queuing packets are described herein that use tags and manipulate counters in a manner that eliminates the reordering of the packets after a Quality of Service (QoS) class had been altered in one or more of the packets.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pair of routers which implement an active VRRP group and one or more passive VRRP groups wherein the active VRRP group executes the VRRP election protocol and the passive VRRP group(s) do not execute the VRRP election protocol but instead the passive VRRP group(s) mimic the active VRRP group such that when the active VRRP group has a state change then all of it's dependent passive VRRP group(s) will also have the same state change such as becoming a master or a backup.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a router (e.g., intermediate router) and a method that queues and services an upgraded/downgraded packet and a plurality of other packets all of which are part of a flow in a manner that eliminates the reordering of the packets. In one embodiment, the router and method queues and services the packets by handing-off a token from an upgraded/downgraded packet to a head-of-line packet which is forwarded to a downstream router. In another embodiment, the router and method queues and services the packets without handing-off a token from an upgraded/downgraded packet to a head-of-line packet which is forwarded to a downstream router.