Abstract: In one embodiment, a service chain data packet is instrumented as it is communicated among network nodes in a network providing service-level and/or networking operations visibility. The service chain data packet includes a particular header identifying a service group defining one or more service functions, and is a data packet and not a probe packet. A network node adds networking and/or service-layer operations data to the particular service chain data packet, such as, but not limited to, in the particular header. Such networking operations data includes a performance metric or attribute related to the transport of the particular service chain packet in the network. Such service-layer operations data includes a performance metric or attribute related to the service-level processing of the particular service chain data packet in the network.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a service chain data packet is instrumented as it is communicated among network nodes in a network providing service-level and/or networking operations visibility. The service chain data packet includes a particular header identifying a service group defining one or more service functions, and is a data packet and not a probe packet. A network node adds networking and/or service-layer operations data to the particular service chain data packet, such as, but not limited to, in the particular header. Such networking operations data includes a performance metric or attribute related to the transport of the particular service chain packet in the network. Such service-layer operations data includes a performance metric or attribute related to the service-level processing of the particular service chain data packet in the network.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dynamic path computation in networks based on automatically detected unavoidable risks include receiving a plurality of shared risks associated with any of one or more network layers, network links, and network equipment; automatically creating a local ignore list for a source node and a remote ignore list for a destination node, based on the plurality of shared risks; and utilizing the plurality of shared risks in a path computation for a path between the source node and the destination node and ignoring any of the plurality of shared risks in the local ignore list and the remote ignore list.

Abstract: Systems and methods for extended protection in a Segment Routing network that utilizes Flexible Algorithm include defining a first Flexible Algorithm that segregates the Segment Routing network into a first subset network that excludes any of links and nodes from the Segment Routing network; defining a second Flexible Algorithm that segregates the Segment Routing network into a second subset network, different from the first subset network; and defining extended protection for the first Flexible Algorithm with the second Flexible Algorithm whereby the second Flexible Algorithm is usable for path to protect the first Flexible Algorithm.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a service chain data packet is instrumented as it is communicated among network nodes in a network providing service-level and/or networking operations visibility. The service chain data packet includes a particular header identifying a service group defining one or more service functions, and is a data packet and not a probe packet. A network node adds networking and/or service-layer operations data to the particular service chain data packet, such as, but not limited to, in the particular header. Such networking operations data includes a performance metric or attribute related to the transport of the particular service chain packet in the network. Such service-layer operations data includes a performance metric or attribute related to the service-level processing of the particular service chain data packet in the network.

Abstract: Systems and methods for computing forward and reverse paths and checking the liveness, keep-alive status, or continuity of the forward and reverse paths are provided. A method, according to one implementation, includes the step of creating one or more messages related to a computation of a forward path from a head-end node to a tail-end node and a computation of a reverse path from the tail-end node to the head-end node. The method also includes the step of adding a data object to the one or more messages, the data object including an intent to check the liveness of the forward path and reverse path.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a service chain data packet is instrumented as it is communicated among network nodes in a network providing service-level and/or networking operations visibility. The service chain data packet includes a particular header identifying a service group defining one or more service functions, and is a data packet and not a probe packet. A network node adds networking and/or service-layer operations data to the particular service chain data packet, such as, but not limited to, in the particular header. Such networking operations data includes a performance metric or attribute related to the transport of the particular service chain packet in the network. Such service-layer operations data includes a performance metric or attribute related to the service-level processing of the particular service chain data packet in the network.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a service chain data packet is instrumented as it is communicated among network nodes in a network providing service-level and/or networking operations visibility. The service chain data packet includes a particular header identifying a service group defining one or more service functions, and is a data packet and not a probe packet. A network node adds networking and/or service-layer operations data to the particular service chain data packet, such as, but not limited to, in the particular header. Such networking operations data includes a performance metric or attribute related to the transport of the particular service chain packet in the network. Such service-layer operations data includes a performance metric or attribute related to the service-level processing of the particular service chain data packet in the network.

Abstract: In one embodiment, segment routing (SR) network processing of packets is performed which includes operations signaling and processing of packets in manners providing processing and/or memory efficiencies. One embodiment includes acquiring a segment routing particular packet by a particular router in a network. Responsive to the particular router data plane ascertained during fast path processing by a fast path processing unit that the segment routing particular packet is to be Operations, Administration, and Maintenance (OAM) processed by a different processing unit in the particular router, communicating a time stamp of a current time and the segment routing particular packet including a segment routing header that includes OAM signaling from said fast path processing to the different processing unit, with fast path processing being hardware-based packet processing by the fast path processing unit. The segment routing particular packet is OAM processing by the different processing unit.

Abstract: A source node in a first domain in a multi-domain network includes a plurality of ports; and switching circuitry configured to forward packets between the plurality of ports, wherein the source node is configured to, for a packet destined for a destination node in another domain in the multi-domain network, add a list of Segment Identifiers (SIDs) to the packet for loose source-based routing from the source node, through the first domain, and to the another domain, and forward the packet via a port of the plurality of ports and with the list of SIDs, wherein the list of SIDs includes at least one SID representing both an anycast SID and a binding SID. The SID is associated with an anycast group that includes a plurality of nodes, and with a binding segment in the second domain, the binding segment includes a different SID list for each node of the plurality of nodes.

Abstract: A source node in a first domain in a multi-domain network includes a plurality of ports; and switching circuitry configured to forward packets between the plurality of ports, wherein the source node is configured to, for a packet destined for a destination node in another domain in the multi-domain network, add a list of Segment Identifiers (SIDs) to the packet for loose source-based routing from the source node, through the first domain, and to the another domain, and forward the packet via a port of the plurality of ports and with the list of SIDs, wherein the list of SIDs includes at least one SID representing both an anycast SID and a binding SID. The SID is associated with an anycast group that includes a plurality of nodes, and with a binding segment in the second domain, the binding segment includes a different SID list for each node of the plurality of nodes.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a service chain data packet is instrumented as it is communicated among network nodes in a network providing service-level and/or networking operations visibility. The service chain data packet includes a particular header identifying a service group defining one or more service functions, and is a data packet and not a probe packet. A network node adds networking and/or service-layer operations data to the particular service chain data packet, such as, but not limited to, in the particular header. Such networking operations data includes a performance metric or attribute related to the transport of the particular service chain packet in the network. Such service-layer operations data includes a performance metric or attribute related to the service-level processing of the particular service chain data packet in the network.

Abstract: In one embodiment, segment routing (SR) network processing of packets is performed which includes operations signaling and processing of packets in manners providing processing and/or memory efficiencies. One embodiment includes acquiring a segment routing particular packet by a particular router in a network. Responsive to the particular router data plane ascertained during fast path processing by a fast path processing unit that the segment routing particular packet is to be Operations, Administration, and Maintenance (OAM) processed by a different processing unit in the particular router, communicating a time stamp of a current time and the segment routing particular packet including a segment routing header that includes OAM signaling from said fast path processing to the different processing unit, with fast path processing being hardware-based packet processing by the fast path processing unit. The segment routing particular packet is OAM processing by the different processing unit.

Abstract: In one embodiment, segment routing (SR) network processing of packets is performed which includes operations signaling and processing of packets in manners providing processing and/or memory efficiencies. One embodiment includes acquiring a segment routing particular packet by a particular router in a network. Responsive to the particular router data plane ascertained during fast path processing by a fast path processing unit that the segment routing particular packet is to be Operations, Administration, and Maintenance (OAM) processed by a different processing unit in the particular router, communicating a time stamp of a current time and the segment routing particular packet including a segment routing header that includes OAM signaling from said fast path processing to the different processing unit, with fast path processing being hardware-based packet processing by the fast path processing unit. The segment routing particular packet is OAM processing by the different processing unit.