Abstract: An example method includes identifying, based on a received indication, at least a first network device that is to be placed in the maintenance mode, determining device information for the first network device, sending, to the first network device, first configuration information included in the device information to cause the first network device to switch into a maintenance mode and enable diversion of network traffic from the first network device to a second network device, responsive to verifying that the first network device has diverted the traffic, initiating maintenance procedures on the first network device while the first network device is in the maintenance mode, and sending, to the first network device, second configuration information included in the device information to cause the first network device to switch out of the maintenance mode and enable reversion of network traffic from the second device to the first network device.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus comprises a memory and a processor operatively coupled to the memory. The processor is configured to receive, from a forward error correction (FEC) decoder of an optical transponder, a first plurality of pre-FEC bit error rate (BER) values at a plurality of times to identify a degradation over a first transmission path. The processor is configured to determine, based on the first plurality of pre-FEC BER values, a signal pattern. The processor is configured to adjust, based on the signal pattern, a set of parameters including a first threshold and a second threshold. The processor is configured to send, in response to a second pre-FEC BER value exceeding the second threshold and being below the first threshold, a signal to trigger traffic rerouting to a second transmission path to reduce traffic loss due to the degradation over the first transmission path.

Abstract: Techniques are described for dynamically adapting virtualized network functions (VNFs) to different target environments. A controller stores device profiles that include configuration data and workflows for resolving configuration parameters for instantiating and deploying a VNF package to form a network service. To support the resolution of VNF configuration parameters, a VNF descriptor for the VNF is extended to include a device family parameter that indicates a shared architecture and configuration parameters. The controller, when instantiating the VNF, may identify a device profile usable for resolving the configuration parameters for the VNF and obtain configuration data from the device profile for creating and configuring a VNF instance for the VNF descriptor. Extending the VNF descriptor to specify a device family allows the VNF to be flexibly adapted for different target environments and may avoid the use of numerous pre-defined VNF descriptors.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for using beacon signals are described. One or more sectorized base stations are used in some embodiments to transmit beacon signals into zones, e.g., each zone being at least partially covered by one or more beacon signals. Use of sectorized base stations allows a single base station, e.g., a Bluetooth or other base station capable of transmitting beacon signals, to cover a number of different zones avoiding the need for multiple different beacon transmitters at different locations to establish different beacon coverage areas. Sectorization of a Bluetooth base station and the ability to remotely or locally configure the base station allows for great flexibility to use beacon signals in stores or other locations without the need for numerous individual battery powered beacon transmitters at floor or display level.

Abstract: Techniques are described for detecting conflicts between IP addresses for assignment to virtual machines (VMs). An example network device executes a plurality of VMs) and is configured to determine at least one IP address for assignment to at least one of the VMs, determine an IP address to request for the at least one VM, generate a message according to Duplicate Media Access Control Address (DMAD) Protocol including data indicating that the message includes an IP address, the data further indicating the IP address, and send the message according to DMAD via the network interface to one or more network devices to determine whether the IP address is in use by the one or more network devices. The message may specify one global IP address. Alternatively, the message may specify a range of link-local IP addresses generated from a MAC address of a network interface of the network device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes sending a first flow control signal to a first stage of transmit queues when a receive queue is in a congestion state. The method also includes sending a second flow control signal to a second stage of transmit queues different from the first stage of transmit queues when the receive queue is in the congestion state.

Abstract: The disclosed computer-implemented method may include (1) creating, at a network device, a relationship management information base that facilitates querying relationships of objects stored in at least one other management information base on the network device, (2) loading, into the relationship management information base, a partition that defines at least one relationship between a plurality of objects stored in the other management information base on the network device, (3) receiving, at the network device, a query directed to the relationship management information base from a network management system, and then in response to the query directed to the relationship management information base (4) obtaining the objects whose relationship is defined by the partition from the other management information base and (5) providing the objects obtained from the other management information base to the network management system to satisfy the query.

Abstract: A device receives network data associated with a network that includes network devices interconnected by links, wherein the network devices utilize segment routing. The device receives segment routing data associated with the network, wherein the segment routing data at least includes a list of segments associated with paths provided through the network by two or more of the network devices and corresponding links. The device merges the network data and the segment routing data to generate merged data, and processes the merged data, with an optimization model, to determine potential network plans within a particular time period. The device identifies a potential network plan, of the potential network plans, that maximizes throughput associated with operating the network, and performs one or more actions based on the potential network plan.

Abstract: A disclosed method may include (1) detecting an in-service software upgrade that is to upgrade a first version of an operating system to a second version of the operating system and (2) performing the in-service software upgrade by (A) constructing a second software stack for the second version while a first software stack for the first version is active, wherein the first software stack and the second software stack (I) share one or more filesystem components in common and (II) differ from one another with respect to at least one filesystem component, (B) identifying one or more active processes that are currently managed by the first version, and (C) deactivating the first version and activating the second version such that management of the active processes is transitioned from the first version to the second version without rebooting. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Techniques are described for facilitating node protection for Broadcast, unknown Unicast, and Multicast (BUM) traffic for a multi-homed node failure. For example, multi-homed provider edge (PE) devices each advertise egress node protection labels to an ingress PE device. In the event one of the multi-homed PE devices fails, the ingress PE device sends a BUM packet including the egress node protection labels for the failed node. When an egress PE device receives the BUM packet, the egress PE device determines whether the BUM packet includes the egress node protection labels and whether the egress PE device is operating as a backup designated forwarder (DF) on an Ethernet segment identifier (ESI) for which the failed node was the DF. If the BUM packet includes the egress node protection labels and the egress PE device is operating as a backup DF, the egress PE device forwards the BUM traffic to the ESI.

Abstract: In general, the disclosure describes techniques for measuring edge-based quality of experience (QoE) metrics. For instance, a network device may construct a topological representation of a network, including indications of nodes and links connecting the nodes within the network. For each of the links, the network device may select a node device of the two node devices connected by the respective link to measure one or more QoE metrics for the respective link, with the non-selected node device not measuring the QoE metrics. In response to selecting the selected node device, the network device may receive a set of one or more QoE metrics for the respective link for data flows flowing from the selected node device to the non-selected node device. The network device may store the QoE metrics and determine counter QoE metrics for data flows flowing from the non-selected node device to the selected node device.

Abstract: A disclosed method may include (1) receiving, at a proxy node within a network, an echo request from a probing node within the network, (2) identifying, within the echo request, a type of probe to be performed in connection with the echo request, (3) determining, based at least in part on the type of probe identified within the echo request, that a proxy interface included on the proxy node is to probe a status of a virtual interface partitioned on a physical interface, (4) probing, via the proxy interface, the status of the virtual interface partitioned on the physical interface by way of a virtual function index assigned to the virtual interface, and then (5) sending, to the probing node, an echo reply that identifies the status of the virtual interface partitioned on the physical interface. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A network device may identify an application signature associated with a web application, and may determine, based on an application-based policy associated with the web application, an access method to be used to transmit traffic associated with the web application. The network device may generate a proxy auto configuration (PAC) file using the application signature associated with the web application, and the access method to be used to transmit the traffic associated with the web application. The network device may provide the PAC file to a client device to permit the client device to transmit the traffic associated with the web application based on the PAC file.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques that include collecting underlay flow data along with overlay flow data within a network and correlating the data to enable insights into network operation and performance. In one example, this disclosure describes a method that includes collecting flow data for a network having a plurality of network devices and a plurality of virtual networks established within the network; storing the flow data in a data store; receiving a request for information about a data flow, wherein the request for information specifies a source virtual network for the data flow and further specifies a destination virtual network for the data flow; and querying the data store with the specified source virtual network and the specified destination virtual network to identify, based on the stored flow data, one or more network devices that have processed at least one packet in the data flow.

Abstract: A method includes deploying a network device within a fabric having a management network by attaching the network device through the management network to a port of a role allocator, wherein the role allocator includes one or more ports designated as first level port connections and one or more other ports designated as second level port connections. If the deployed network device is attached to one of the ports designated as first level port connections, the deployed network device is configured as a first level device. If the deployed network device is attached to one of the ports designated as second level port connections, the deployed network device is configured as a second level device.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first communication interface configured to be communicatively coupled, via an optical line, to a network device that is disposed in an optical network using wavelength division multiplexing (WDM). The apparatus also includes a second communication interface configured to be communicatively coupled to a router via an Ethernet connection. The apparatus also includes a signal generator operatively coupled to the first communication interface and the second communication interface. The signal generator is configured to generate an Ethernet signal representing at least one attribute of the optical line between the first communication interface and the network device. The second communication interface is configured to transmit the Ethernet signal to the router.

Abstract: A network device includes match filters to be applied to packets transiting two or more network interfaces. In one example, a network device includes a filtering unit configured to apply one or more filters to a first packet transiting a first network interface to determine a first rule the first packet matches, send the first packet and data representing the first network interface to a first accounting filter associated with the first rule, apply the filters to a second packet transiting a second network interface to determine a second rule that the second packet matches, the second packet being different than the first packet, and the second network interface being different than the first network interface, and send the second packet and second data representing the second network interface to a second accounting filter associated with the second rule.

Abstract: A router configured as an autonomous system border router (ASBR) in a local autonomous system (AS), includes: (1) a control component for communicating and computing routing information, the control component running a Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) and peering with at least one BGP peer device in an outside autonomous system (AS) different from the local AS; and (2) a forwarding component for forwarding packets using forwarding information derived from the routing information computed by the control component, wherein the control component (i) receives reachability information for an external prefix corresponding to a device outside the local AS, and (ii) associates the external prefix, as a BGP next hop (B_NH), an abstract next hop (ANH) that identifies a set of BGP (eBGP) sessions that contains at least one eBGP session over which given external prefix has been learned, each of the at least one eBGP sessions being between the ASBR and a BGP peer device in an AS outside the AS, wherein the device located out

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a memory and a processor operatively coupled to the memory. The processor is configured to be operatively coupled to a first optical transponder and a second optical transponder. The processor is configured to receive, from the second optical transponder, a signal representing a skew value of an optical signal and a signal representing a bit-error-rate (BER) value of the optical signal. The skew value is associated with a skew between an in-phase component of the optical signal and a quadrature component of the optical signal. The processor is configured to determine, based on at least one of the skew value or the BER value, if a performance degradation of the first optical transponder satisfies a threshold. The processor is configured to send a control signal to the first optical transponder to adjust a pulse shaping or a data baud rate of the first optical transponder.

Abstract: An improved traceroute mechanism for use in a label-switched path (LSP) is provided by (a) receiving, by a device in the LSP, an echo request message, wherein the echo request includes a label stack having a least one label, and wherein each of the at least one label has an associated time-to-live (TTL) value; (b) responsive to receiving the echo request, determining by the device, whether or not the device is a penultimate hop popping (PHP) device for the outermost label of the label stack; and (c) responsive to determining that the device is the PHP device for the outermost label of the label stack, (1) generating an echo reply message corresponding to the echo request message, wherein the echo reply message is encoded to indicate that the device is the PHP device for the outermost label of the label stack, and (2) sending the echo reply message back towards a source of the echo request message.