Abstract: A router operates in both a Segment Routing (SR) network portion and a Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) network portion of a network that utilizes Open Shortest Path First (OSPF). The router receives an OSPF advertisement message originated by a mapping server that includes a sub-Type-length-value (sub-TLV) element that identifies a preferred type of path across the MPLS network portion for an identifiable set of traffic that is to be received by the router from the SR network portion. The router identifies, based at least in part upon the sub-TLV element, one path of a plurality of available paths across the MPLS network portion for the identifiable set of traffic, and configures its forwarding plane to utilize the identified one path accordingly for the identifiable set of traffic. The OSPF advertisement message can be an OSPF LSA, and can carry an Extended Prefix Range TLV including the sub-TLV element.

Abstract: A method is implemented by a network device functioning as a Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) speaker to adaptively control a flow of link-state information to a peer BGP speaker. The network device stores, in a database, link-state information pertaining to a network in which it operates. The method includes determining that a pending change to the link-state information in the link-state database exists, determining whether a length of a change list queue meets/exceeds a threshold value, holding off on enqueuing link-state information into the change list queue while the length of the change list queue meets or exceeds the threshold value, determining aggregated link-state information to transmit to the peer BGP speaker in response to a determination that the length of the change list queue falls below the threshold value, and enqueuing the aggregated link-state information into the change list queue for eventual transmission to the peer BGP speaker.

Abstract: A method is implemented by a network device functioning as a Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) speaker to transmit aggregated link-state information pertaining to a network in which the network device operates to a peer BGP speaker. The method includes storing, in a link-state database, node entries representing nodes in the network, fragment entries representing fragments received from nodes in the network, and link/prefix entries representing links/prefixes in the network. Each link/prefix entry is assigned a state from a possible set of states, where the possible set of states include a new entry state, a modified entry state, a deleted entry state, and an unmodified entry state. The method further includes determining link-state information to transmit to the peer BGP speaker based on a state assigned to a link/prefix entry, and transmitting the determined link-state information to the peer BGP speaker.

Abstract: A method to enhance a graceful restart process in an open shortest path first (OSPF) network is disclosed. The method is implemented on an OSPF enabled router that is adjacent to a plurality of neighboring OSPF enabled routers within a network, where the OSPF enabled router and the plurality of neighboring OSPF enabled routers are within one area of the network. In preparation of a database synchronization process during a graceful restart (GR) session, the OSPF enabled router selects a first neighboring OSPF enabled router from the plurality of neighboring OSPF enabled routers, initiates a first database synchronization with the first neighboring OSPF enabled router. Then the OSPF enabled router initiates a set of database synchronizations with remaining neighboring OSPF enabled routers only after the first database synchronization with the first neighboring OSPF enabled router completes.

Abstract: A first network element attempts to expedite a Graceful OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) Restart procedure in a second network element. The first network element receives a message from the second network element that indicates an intention of the second network element to perform a Graceful OSPF Restart procedure. The second network element is a neighbor of the first network element. Responsive to receiving the message, the first network element transmits a unicast Hello packet to that second network element irrespective of an OSPF Hello interval of the first network element in an attempt to cause the second network element to move to an OSPF 2-way neighbor state with the first network element and trigger an OSPF database description exchange procedure of the Graceful OSPF Restart procedure between the first network element and the second network element.