Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises transmitting a PING from a network element to a computing device, wherein a static route is between the network element and the computing device. The method also includes causing a distribution of availability of the static route to at least one other network element based on whether the computing device responded to the PING.

Abstract: A machine readable medium for tunneling Ethernet is described. A machine readable medium comprises receiving an Ethernet frame and transmitting the Ethernet frame over a non-homogenous tunnel, the tunnel distinguishing subscriber traffic.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for load balancing and protecting data traffic in an optical ring is described. A method comprises configuring multiple spanning trees in a set of one or more network elements of an optical ring, load balancing with the multiple spanning trees data traffic transmitted in unprotected data channels provisioned through the optical ring, and protecting the unprotected data channels with the multiple spanning trees.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for virtual private networks (VPNs) is described. A computer implemented method comprises determining a set of endpoints for a generic routing encapsulation (GRE) tunnel, determining a key (the key corresponding to a VPN), dynamically establishing the GRE tunnel with the set of endpoints and the key, and processing a set of GRE traffic for the VPN.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for deframing signals is described. In one embodiment of the invention, a computer implemented method comprises receiving a plurality of signals at a first clock rate, synchronizing the plurality of signals to a second clock rate, and deframing the plurality of signals.

Abstract: A network element modifying the DHCP lease timer is described. According to one embodiment, an exemplary method includes maintaining, at a network element, DHCP lease time for one or more clients and in response to a DHCP renewal request from a client, on behalf of a DHCP server, providing DHCP renewal services to the client based on lease time information associated with the client without invoking the DHCP server.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for mesh based protection of an optical network is described. A method comprises protecting a first set of one or more optical sub-channels with automatic protection switching, utilizing a second and third set of one or more optical sub-channels to transmit traffic in accordance with a mesh process to transmit traffic, and transmitting traffic in the third set of optical sub-channels, which would have been transmitted in the second set of optical sub-channels, in accordance with routes determined by the mesh process in response to an alarm indicating a failure affecting the second set of optical sub-channels.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for rerouting network traffic are described herein. In one embodiment, an example of process includes maintaining as a part of a routing table of a network element information regarding one or more backup links leading to a node using label switched protocols (LSPs), the node being adjacent to the network element, and in response to a failure of a primary link coupling the network element to the node, the network element rerouting network traffic to the node via the one or more backup paths without having to notifying and waiting for a response from a headend node that originates the network traffic. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing out-of-order processing of packets is described. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a packet, which is in an original position relative to other packets; and attempting, by a primary processing unit, to classify and process the packet. The method also includes determining whether the packet was completely classified and processed by the primary processing unit; and upon determining that the primary processing unit completely classified and processed the packet, bypassing a secondary processing unit. The method also includes transmitting the packet onto a network, the packet being transmitted in its original position relative to the other packets.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for agnostic PPPoE switching is described. A method in a network element comprises converting Point to Point Protocol (PPP) protocol data units (PDUs) encapsulated according to different protocols into PPP PDUs with a uniform encapsulation, and transmitting the uniformly encapsulated PPP PDUs.

Abstract: A method an apparatus for multiple contexts and layer 3 virtual private networks is described. A method comprises providing a layer 3 virtual private network (VPN) to a first customer; providing backbone access to a second customer; and maintaining on a single network element a first set of information for the first customer separately from a second set of information for the second customer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the incorporation of any size and location of concatenated SONET frames, which carry packet data, in an SONET signal are described. In an embodiment, a method includes receiving packet data. Additionally, the method includes concatenating the packet data into a Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) Synchronous Optical Network (SONET) signal. The concatenation can be across any locations within the TDM SONET signal, and a size of the concatenation can be in increments of single SONET frames. The method also includes transmitting the TDM SONET signal having the concatenated packet data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for representing a label switched path. In one embodiment, a computer implemented method comprises representing a label switched path (LSP) with a data structure, the data structure indicating a virtual ingress and an identifier to distinguish the LSP from other LSPs represented with the same virtual ingress.

Abstract: Context selection in a network element through subscriber flow switching. According to one embodiment of the invention, authentication, authorization and accounting is performed for a subscriber desiring to connect to a plurality of services on different contexts. In response, bindings are established to a plurality of contexts for the subscriber. In response to receiving a traffic packet from the subscribed, at least certain header information from the traffic packet is accessed. Based on at least the accessed header information, one of the plurality of contexts is selected for that traffic packet.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a logic coupled to receive a number of data packets. The logic comprises an execution unit to generate a request for routing data for a data packet of the number of data packets. The logic also includes a memory lookup engine coupled to the execution unit and a local memory. The local memory is to store routing data for the number of data packets. The memory lookup engine is to receive the request and to update the local memory upon determining that the routing data for the data packet is not found in the local memory. Additionally, the logic includes a communication logic coupled to the memory lookup engine. The communication logic is to transmit an update message to a remote logic. The update message is to cause the remote logic to update a remote memory, wherein the update message is transmitted based on a low priority update upon determining that a buffer for update messages of the remote memory is full when the local memory is updated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing channelized and unchannelized data within a signal are described. In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving in a network element, data packets within a number of channels, wherein each of the number of channels are channelized or unchannelized, processing, in a protocol engine within the network element, the data packets within the number of channels that are channelized, and processing, in the protocol engine within the network element, the data packets within the number of channels that are unchannelized.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for multiple communications sessions is described. In one embodiment of the invention, a computer implemented method comprises establishing a session at a data link layer between a host and a remote access concentrator, determining a set of network layer information corresponding to the session, and applying the set of network layer information to the host at the data link layer.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving a request to modify a subscriber connection to a network element. The method also includes modifying attributes of the subscriber connection, within a memory of the network element, without disconnecting the subscriber connection from the network element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for multicast multiple prefetch is described. A method in a network element comprises queuing a set of one or more prefetch requests, wherein a subset of the set of prefetch requests corresponds to a multicast packet, issuing a first of the subset of prefetch requests, and blocking each of the subsequent ones of the subset of prefetch requests.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises recursively selecting a child node of a previously selected node of a port tree and having a highest priority among nodes of a same level within the port tree, until the selected node has associated egress queues of an egress port. The method also includes outputting a number of packets from the associated egress queues of the selected node in a current processing cycle. The number of packets outputted is based on an allocated bandwidth for the associated egress queues, in which the allocated bandwidth accounts for a deficit from a previous processing cycle.