Abstract: Techniques disclosed herein provide a method and systems for installing routes by a route reflect (RR) device when the tunnel RIB of the RR device does not include any tunnel labels definitions. The unicast routing information base (RIB) of route reflector (RR) device is configured to include a next hop associated with a first network device. When the RR device receives a route from the first network device that comprises a tunnel label for reaching the second network device, the RR device resolves the next hop of the received route using the unicast RIB of the RR device. In response to the resolving, the RR device forwards the route to a third network device (e.g., identified by an export route target of the RR device).

Abstract: Techniques disclosed herein provide a method and systems for installing routes by a route reflect (RR) device when the tunnel RIB of the RR device does not include any tunnel labels definitions. The unicast routing information base (RIB) of route reflector (RR) device is configured to include a next hop associated with a first network device. When the RR device receives a route from the first network device that comprises a tunnel label for reaching the second network device, the RR device resolves the next hop of the received route using the unicast RIB of the RR device. In response to the resolving, the RR device forwards the route to a third network device (e.g., identified by an export route target of the RR device).

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method, executable by a first network device, that receives a set of commands to create a custom routing table. The set of commands specifies that the custom routing table be configured to resolve next hops for routing protocol paths using routes determined by a subset of a set of protocols used by a predefined routing table of the first network device to determine next hops for routing protocol paths. Based on the set of commands, the method further generates the custom routing table. The method also receives a routing protocol path from a second network device. The method further uses one of the custom routing table and the predefined routing table to resolve a next hop for the routing protocol path.

Abstract: Techniques disclosed herein provide a method and systems for installing routes by a route reflect (RR) device when the tunnel RIB of the RR device does not include any tunnel labels definitions. The unicast routing information base (RIB) of route reflector (RR) device is configured to include a next hop associated with a first network device. When the RR device receives a route from the first network device that comprises a tunnel label for reaching the second network device, the RR device resolves the next hop of the received route using the unicast RIB of the RR device. In response to the resolving, the RR device forwards the route to a third network device (e.g., identified by an export route target of the RR device).

Abstract: Novel mechanisms for compiling routing policies and evaluating network routes, including: (a) an efficient mechanism for representing routing policies to facilitate the runtime evaluation of network routes; (b) a mechanism for late-binding vectors pertaining to external constructs used or recited within the routing policies; and (c) a mechanism for updating routing policy state pertinent to network route evaluation. Existing methods for evaluating network routes on a network device, such as the use of route maps, tend to introduce complexity and extend route evaluation runtime when performing, for example, certain operations to one or more route attributes for any given network route being evaluated. Through implementation of disclosed mechanisms, however, route evaluation runtimes may be reduced, thereby minimizing, if not eliminating, any route evaluation congestion.

Abstract: Techniques disclosed herein provide a method and systems for installing routes by a route reflect (RR) device when the tunnel RIB of the RR device does not include any tunnel labels definitions. The unicast routing information base (RIB) of route reflector (RR) device is configured to include a next hop associated with a first network device. When the RR device receives a route from the first network device that comprises a tunnel label for reaching the second network device, the RR device resolves the next hop of the received route using the unicast RIB of the RR device. In response to the resolving, the RR device forwards the route to a third network device (e.g., identified by an export route target of the RR device).

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a method, executable by a first network device, that receives a set of commands to create a custom routing table. The set of commands specifies that the custom routing table be configured to resolve next hops for routing protocol paths using routes determined by a subset of a set of protocols used by a predefined routing table of the first network device to determine next hops for routing protocol paths. Based on the set of commands, the method further generates the custom routing table. The method also receives a routing protocol path from a second network device. The method further uses one of the custom routing table and the predefined routing table to resolve a next hop for the routing protocol path.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for automatically detecting network routing peers and establishing route peering sessions. An illustrative method includes retrieving, at a network router, route peer configuration for the network router. The route peer configuration identifies one or more network interfaces for route peering but typically does not identify an address of peer routers. The method identifies, based on the route peer configuration, a network interface from a plurality of network interfaces of the network router for route peering and configures the network interface to participate in route peering. The method then detects a peer router on the network interface and initiates a peering session on the network interface with the peer router. Using the peering session, the method exchange route information with the peer router.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for automatically detecting network routing peers and establishing route peering sessions. An illustrative method includes retrieving, at a network router, route peer configuration for the network router. The route peer configuration identifies one or more network interfaces for route peering but typically does not identify an address of peer routers. The method identifies, based on the route peer configuration, a network interface from a plurality of network interfaces of the network router for route peering and configures the network interface to participate in route peering. The method then detects a peer router on the network interface and initiates a peering session on the network interface with the peer router. Using the peering session, the method exchange route information with the peer router.

Abstract: A method and system for efficiently processing command line interface (CLI) instructions on a network element. Specifically, the disclosed method and system analyze CLI statements to determine whether a given CLI statement should be processed by a command specific sub-agent or a non-specific sub-agent. The presence of a bypass statement included in the CLI statement may indicate that the CLI statement should be processed by a command specific sub-agent to reduce the computational load of executing the command specified by the CLI statement. The presence of a regular statement, rather than a bypass statement, in the CLI statement may indicate that the CLI statement should be processed by a nonspecific sub-agent. Processing of a CLI statement that includes a bypass statement may be expedited by bypassing generic runtime processes performed by a nonspecific sub-agent.

Abstract: A method for selective route download (SRD) in network devices. The method includes obtaining, by a network device, a first SRD route selection list. The method further includes identifying a first route to be installed in the FIB, based on the first SRD route selection list, including making a first determination that a route map, based on the SRD route selection list, includes route map changes that are exclusively attributed to the SRD route selection list. Identifying the first route further includes making a second determination that the route map changes are exclusively expressed using a prefix list, and based on the first and the second determinations, selecting the first route from a border gateway protocol (BGP) routing information base (RIB), by processing only routes in the BGP RIB that have prefixes matching changed prefixes in the prefix list. The method also includes updating the FIB with the first route.

Abstract: A method and system for efficiently processing command line interface (CIA) instructions on a network element. Specifically, the disclosed method and system analyze CLI statements to determine whether a given CLI statement should be processed by a command specific sub-agent or a non-specific sub-agent. The presence of a bypass statement included in the CLI statement may indicate that the CLI statement should be processed by a command specific sub-agent to reduce the computational load of executing the command specified by the CLI statement. The presence of a regular statement, rather than a bypass statement, in the CLI statement may indicate that the CLI statement should be processed by a nonspecific sub-agent. Processing of a CLI statement that includes a bypass statement may be expedited by bypassing generic runtime processes performed by a nonspecific sub-agent.

Abstract: A method for configuring a network device. The method includes writing a route for a destination IP prefix to the forwarding information base (FIB), and after writing the route, obtaining a set of routes and Writing the set of routes to a routing information base (RIB). The method further includes, after writing the set of routes to the RIB and after the expiration of a timer: identifying, in the RIB, a set of ECMP routes from the plurality of routes for the destination IP prefix, processing the set of ECMP routes for the destination IP prefix, and updating the FIB of the network device based on set of processed ECMP routes.

Abstract: A method for configuring a network device. The method includes writing a route for a destination IP prefix to the forwarding information base (FIB), and after writing the route, obtaining a set of routes and Writing the set of routes to a routing information base (RIB). The method further includes, after writing the set of routes to the RIB and after the expiration of a timer: identifying, in the RIB, a set of ECMP routes from the plurality of routes for the destination IP prefix, processing the set of ECMP routes for the destination IP prefix, and updating the FIB of the network device based on set of processed ECMP routes.

Abstract: A method for configuring a network device. The method includes writing a route for a destination IP prefix to the forwarding information base (FIB), and after writing the route, obtaining a set of routes and writing the set of routes to a routing information base (RIB). The method further includes, after writing the set of routes to the RIB and after the expiration of a timer: identifying, in the RIB, a set of ECMP routes from the plurality of routes for the destination IP prefix, processing the set of ECMP routes for the destination IP prefix, and updating the FIB of the network device based on set of processed ECMP routes.

Abstract: A method for selective route download (SRD) in network devices. The method includes obtaining, by a network device, a first SRD route selection list. The method further includes identifying a first route to be installed in the FIB, based on the first SRD route selection list, including making a first determination that a route map, based on the SRD route selection list, includes route map changes that are exclusively attributed to the SRD route selection list. Identifying the first route further includes making a second determination that the route map changes are exclusively expressed using a prefix list, and based on the first and the second determinations, selecting the first route from a border gateway protocol (BGP) routing information base (RIB), by processing only routes in the BGP RIB that have prefixes matching changed prefixes in the prefix list. The method also includes updating the FIB with the first route.

Abstract: A method for initializing the border gateway protocol (BGP) on network devices. The method includes predicting, by the network device, using a set of prediction heuristics, a first possible internet protocol version 6 (IPv6) address of a first peer network device. The method further includes sending, by the network device, a first neighbor discovery protocol (NDP) request for the first possible IPv6 address, and receiving, by the network device, from the first peer network device, in response to the NDP request, a first media access control (MAC) address. The method also includes establishing, after receiving the first MAC address, a BGP session with the first peer network device and exchanging route updates with the first peer network device, and processing a packet. The processing of the packet is delayed until the first MAC address is received.

Abstract: A method for configuring a network device. The method includes writing a route for a destination IP prefix to the forwarding information base (FIB), and after writing the route, obtaining a set of routes and writing the set of routes to a routing information base (RIB). The method further includes, after writing the set of routes to the RIB and after the expiration of a timer: identifying, in the RIB, a set of ECMP routes from the plurality of routes for the destination IP prefix, processing the set of ECMP routes for the destination IP prefix, and updating the FIB of the network device based on set of processed ECMP routes.

Abstract: A method for initializing the border gateway protocol (BGP) on network devices. The method includes predicting, by the network device, using a set of prediction heuristics, a first possible internet protocol version 6 (IPv6) address of a first peer network device. The method further includes sending, by the network device, a first neighbor discovery protocol (NDP) request for the first possible IPv6 address, and receiving, by the network device, from the first peer network device, in response to the NDP request, a first media access control (MAC) address. The method also includes establishing, after receiving the first MAC address, a BGP session with the first peer network device and exchanging route updates with the first peer network device, and processing a packet. The processing of the packet is delayed until the first MAC address is received.