Abstract: In general, techniques are described by which to provide a scaled end-to-end view of link metrics to integrate multiple non-uniform Interior Gateway Protocol (“IGP”) domains. For example, an Accumulated Interior Gateway Protocol (“AIGP”) attribute, a non-transitive BGP attribute, which includes a link metric assigned to a link within a first IGP domain, is scaled to conform to a metric scale of the second IGP domain. The AIGP attribute may also add link metric assigned to a link within the second IGP domain and may add static metrics of non-IGP links connecting the IGP domains. An IGP domain may set its IGP to the scaled AIGP attribute such that the link metric may include a uniformly scaled end-to-end view of link metrics across the IGP domains. Additionally, a sham-link is assigned a metric value in accordance with the scaling techniques.

Abstract: A device provides path data associated with a network that includes network devices interconnected by links. The path data includes data identifying a first path and a second path to be provided through the network. The device provides an instruction to cause the network devices to provide information identifying the first path and to route traffic via the first path, and receives an indication of a failure associated with the first path. The indication causes the network devices to provide information identifying the second path and to re-route the traffic from the first path to the second path. The device causes the failure associated with the first path to be repaired while the traffic is re-routed to the second path, and provides, based on causing the failure to be repaired, another instruction to cause the network devices to route the traffic via the first path.

Abstract: One exemplary aspect describes systems and methods for determining normal SLE behavior, determining when a SLE exhibits abnormal deterioration, and determining whether to take an action to mitigate what appears to be an indication of an abnormal SLE.

Abstract: A device determines traffic and costs associated with a network that includes network devices interconnected by links, and determines traffic assignments for the network based on the traffic and the costs associated with the network. The device determines tunnel use for the network based on the traffic assignments, and determines peer link use for the network based on the tunnel use. The device determines costs associated with the traffic assignments, the tunnel use, and the peer link use for the network, and generates traffic plans based on the traffic assignments, the tunnel use, the peer link use, and the costs associated with the traffic assignments, the tunnel use, and the peer link use. The device causes one of the traffic plans to be implemented in the network by the network devices and the links.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for automatically identifying and correcting faults relating to poor communications service in a wireless system, e.g., in real time, are described. The methods are well suited for use in a system with a variety of access points, e.g., wireless and/or wired access points, which can be used to obtain access to the Internet or another network. Access points (APs), which have been configured to monitor in accordance with received monitoring configuration information, e.g. on a per access point interface basis, captures messages, store captured messages, and in collaboration with network monitoring apparatus which can be in an AP or external thereto, use message sequences to determine a remedial action to be automatically taken when poor service is likely as may be predicted based on the detected message sequence between a UE and one or more APs.

Abstract: The disclosed system may include may include (1) a power socket receptacle that (A) fits within a via of a circuit board and (B) is inserted into the circuit board through one side of the via and (2) a power socket plug that (A) fits within the power socket receptacle and (B) is screwed into the power socket receptacle through another side of the via such that the power socket receptacle and the power socket plug collectively provide electrical continuity across the via. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: System and method for processing heartbeat messages. A first network device receives heartbeat response messages from two or more of a plurality of network devices. Each heartbeat response message respectively corresponds to one network device of the plurality of network devices. The first network device processes the received heartbeat response messages in kernel space and determines, for each of the plurality of heartbeat response messages, an index value identifying the network device that sent the respective heartbeat response message. The first network device updates heartbeat response message fields in a health check data structure in kernel space based on the generated index values and subsequently processes, in a user space, information received from at least one of the heartbeat response message fields of the health check data structure to obtain health status associated with one or more of the plurality of network devices.

Abstract: Techniques are described for redundantly forwarding encapsulated multicast traffic of a multicast distribution tree, using reliable overlay connections established between adjacent nodes of the multicast distribution tree. An example router of this disclosure is configured to receive first multicast packets of a multicast flow via a multicast distribution tree, to receive second multicast packets of the multicast flow via a transmission control protocol (TCP) connection of a connection-oriented distribution tree implemented in parallel to the multicast distribution tree, and in response to determining that the LHR has received a multicast packet of the first multicast packets via the multicast distribution tree out of order to create a gap of one or more of the first multicast packets for the multicast flow, forward, to at least one interested receiver positioned downstream of the router, the second multicast packets.

Abstract: A disclosed method may include (1) sampling, by way of at least one CPU on a network device, packets traversing a network in connection with at least one communication session that involves computing devices, (2) calculating a total number of packets sampled by way of the CPU over a certain period of time, (3) identifying a sampling threshold that represents a target number of packets to be sampled by way of the CPU over the certain period of time, (4) determining that the total number of packets sampled over the certain period of time exceeds the sampling threshold, and in response to determining that the total number of packets sampled exceeds the sampling threshold, (5) decreasing a sampling rate at which the CPU is to sample subsequent packets traversing the network in connection with the communication session. Various other systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: The disclosed apparatus may include (1) a cage designed to house an optical transceiver module, wherein the cage includes (A) an entry side that forms an opening for installation and removal of the optical transceiver module and (B) a back side opposite the entry side and (2) an EMI absorber coupled to the back side of the cage to limit an amount of radiated energy that escapes the cage during operation of the optical transceiver module. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Described are various configurations of reduced crosstalk optical switches. Various embodiments can reduce or entirely eliminate crosstalk using a coupler that has a power-splitting ratio that compensates for amplitude imbalance caused by phase modulator attenuation. Some embodiments implement a plurality of phase modulators and couplers as part of a dilated switch network to increase overall bandwidth and further reduce potential for crosstalk.

Abstract: An ingress fabric endpoint coupled to a switch fabric within a network device reorders packet flows based on congestion status. In one example, the ingress fabric endpoint receives packet flows for switching across the switch fabric. The ingress fabric endpoint assigns each packet for each packet flow to a fast path or a slow path for packet switching. The ingress fabric endpoint processes, to generate a stream of cells for switching across the switch fabric, packets from the fast path and the slow path to maintain a first-in-first-out ordering of the packets within each packet flow. The ingress fabric endpoint switches a packet of a first packet flow after switching a packet of a second packet flow despite receiving the packet of the first packet flow before the packet of the second packet flow.

Abstract: A network device may receive network traffic for an application. The network device may identify an application layer protocol being used for the network traffic. The network device may obtain contextual information, from the network traffic, to obtain an item of contextual information, and the item of contextual information may be selected based on the application layer protocol. The network device may determine that the item of contextual information matches a stored item of contextual information. The network device may determine that a threshold has been met with regard to the stored item of contextual information. The network device may generate an application signature for the application based on the item of contextual information. The network device may send the application signature to another device to permit the other device to identify the application based on the application signature.

Abstract: A disclosed method may include (1) executing a virtual router that services traffic within a network in connection with a specific network consumer and (2) dynamically scaling memory of the virtual router to accommodate a networking need of the specific network consumer by (A) installing, in at least one component of a physical network device that hosts the virtual router, a set of networking objects that facilitate servicing the traffic in connection with the specific network consumer, (B) determining an amount of memory that is consumed by the set of networking objects at the component of a physical network device, and (C) modifying a configuration file of the virtual router such that the memory of the virtual router is scaled to store the set of networking objects via the component. Various other systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A network device that includes a plurality of packet processing components may receive traffic associated with one or more services. The network device may store state information for each of the plurality of packet processing components, while the plurality of packet processing components are receiving the traffic. The state information may include state configuration information and/or internal storage information. The state information may be stored using a data structure that is internal to the network device and external to the packet processing component. The network device may detect an error that prevents the packet processing component from processing at least a portion of the traffic. The network device may execute, based on detecting the error that prevents the packet processing component from processing at least the portion of the traffic, a recovery procedure that uses the state information to reset the packet processing component to an operational state.

Abstract: The stiffening brace may include a set of borders dimensioned to substantially surround an integrated circuit, wherein each border includes (1) a portion of material that is positioned atop a perimeter of the integrated circuit and (2) an additional portion of material that extends beyond the perimeter of the integrated circuit such that the additional portion of material overhangs a circuit board to which the integrated circuit is soldered. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Techniques are described for automatic discovery and provisioning of an IP fabric underlay network for use by an overlay network of a data center. The techniques provide mechanisms for management of the IP fabric underlay network, particularly as network devices are added to the underlay network topology for use by the overlay network. The techniques enable a control plane of a network device in the IP fabric underlay network to monitor discovery of neighbor network devices and link local addresses for the neighbor network devices. The disclosed techniques further enable a control plane of the network device to configure routing sessions between the network device and each of the discovered neighbor network devices based on the link local addresses for the neighbor network devices. The configuration of the routing sessions may include an exchange of loopback addresses for the network devices used by the overlay network.

Abstract: A device may receive first information associated with a set of security rules. The first information may identify a set of security actions a device is to implement when the set of security rules applies to traffic. The device may determine a manner in which the set of security rules is to apply using the first information. The device may determine whether the manner in which the set of security rules is to apply and an intent of a network security policy or a manner in which a set of previously defined security rules is to apply match to determine whether the set of security rules conflicts with the network security policy or whether the set of security rules and the set of previously defined security rules are related. The device may perform an action.

Abstract: The disclosed apparatus may include (1) a shoulder bolt that includes (A) a head and (B) a shank, (2) a retention barrel that envelops at least a portion of the shank of the shoulder bolt, (3) a coil spring that envelops at least a portion of the shank of the shoulder bolt and resides between the head of the shoulder bolt and a heatsink, and (4) a travel-limiting component (such as a set screw or a sleeve) that (A) is coupled to the retention barrel and (B) limits the heatsink from travelling linearly beyond a travel threshold via the coil spring. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: According to various aspects of the present disclosure, an apparatus is provided. In an aspect, the apparatus includes an optical transceiver having a first port, a second port and an optical switch coupled to the first port and the second port. The optical switch is switchable between a unidirectional port operation mode and a bidirectional port operation mode. When the optical switch is in the unidirectional port operation mode, the first port is configured to send a first optical signal, and the second port configured to receive a second optical signal. When the optical switch is in the bidirectional port operation mode, the first port configured to send the first optical signal and receive the second optical signal, and the second port configured to receive a third optical signal and not send the first signal.