Abstract: Techniques for initiator-based data-plane validation of segment routed, multiprotocol label switched (MPLS) networks are described herein. In examples, an initiating node may determine to validate data-plane connectivity associated with a network path of the MPLS network. The initiating node may store validation data in a local memory of the initiating node. In examples, the initiating node may send a probe message that includes a request for identification data associated with a terminating node. The terminating node may send a probe reply message that includes the identification data, as well as, in some examples, a code that instructs the initiating node to perform validation. In examples, the initiating node may use the validation data stored in memory to compare to the identification data received from the terminating node to validate data-plane connectivity. In some examples, the initiating node may indicate a positive or negative response after performing the validation.

Abstract: A method of orchestrating one or more radio resources among various services executing within a container. The method includes obtaining, by an orchestration engine executing on a network device, a request, from a first service of a plurality of services, for use of a physical/hardware resource that connects a container running on the network device to a network. The request from the first service has a particular priority. The plurality of services execute within the container. The method further includes determining whether to connect the first service to the network via the physical/hardware resource based on the priority and an availability status of the physical/hardware resource and establishing, at a kernel level, a connection between the first service and the physical/hardware resource based on the determining.

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: A method is performed by a network controller that is configured to control routers configured to forward a multicast flow downstream from a first hop router that is a root of a multicast tree formed by the routers to last hop routers that terminate branches of the multicast tree, respectively. The method includes collecting operational configuration information from the routers and constructing a topological view of the multicast tree based on the operational configuration information; causing the routers to forward multicast probes downstream from the first hop router along all of the branches toward the last hop routers to trace the multicast tree; receiving, from particular ones of the last hop routers that received the multicast probes, indications that the multicast probes were received; and detecting failures in the multicast tree based on the indications and the topological view.

Abstract: Techniques for initiator-based data-plane validation of segment routed, multiprotocol label switched (MPLS) networks are described herein. In examples, an initiating node may determine to validate data-plane connectivity associated with a network path of the MPLS network. The initiating node may store validation data in a local memory of the initiating node. In examples, the initiating node may send a probe message that includes a request for identification data associated with a terminating node. The terminating node may send a probe reply message that includes the identification data, as well as, in some examples, a code that instructs the initiating node to perform validation. In examples, the initiating node may use the validation data stored in memory to compare to the identification data received from the terminating node to validate data-plane connectivity. In some examples, the initiating node may indicate a positive or negative response after performing the validation.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for performing application-based tagging. An example method includes receiving, at a virtual socket, non-packetized data from an application and generating, by the virtual socket, a label based on the application. One or more data packets are generated by packetizing at least a portion of the non-packetized data. A header field of the one or more data packets includes a tag based on the label.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to BIER forwarding over varying BSL domains, the methods including the steps of receiving, at a border node, a packet comprising a BIER header having a BIER bit string with a first bit string length; reading an incoming label of the packet comprising instructions to split the BIER header into a plurality of smaller headers associated with a plurality of smaller bit strings; generating a set of split bit masks; performing a separate bitwise AND operation on each split bit mask and the BIER bit string to generate the plurality of smaller bit strings, each copied to a corresponding smaller header of the plurality of smaller headers; and performing a lookup for each of the plurality of smaller headers on a respective forwarding table to determine one or more egress routers to which to transmit the packet.

Abstract: Methods are provided in which a network device hosts distinct network access resources that are managed by different entities. The method includes obtaining a request for partitioning one or more network resources of an on-premise network device for connecting one or more endpoints to a first network managed by a first entity. The on-premise network device connects one or more endpoints to a second network managed by a different entity. The method further involves partitioning, based on the request, the one or more network resources and connecting the one or more endpoints to the first network using the one or more network resources. The one or more network resources are managed by the first entity while at least one other network resource of the on-premise network device is managed by the different entity and is associated with connecting the one or more endpoints to the second network.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure include a method and associated network device. The method includes authenticating an identity of a user of a client device after the client device is associated with an access network provider. Authenticating the identity of the user comprises receiving, from an identity provider, a credential associated with the identity, and receiving, from the identity provider, information identifying a network-based service to be applied to network traffic with the client device. The method further includes establishing, using the credential and the received information, a secure connection between the access network provider and a service provider that is capable of providing the network-based service. The method further includes receiving network traffic from the service provider. Packets of the network traffic include an assurance value that enables the client device to determine that the network-based service is being provided by the service provider.

Abstract: Techniques are described for quickly rerouting traffic to an application hosted on a first Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) location. In the event of an error in routing traffic to the first VPC portion traffic can be rerouted to a second VPC portion. The first and second VPC portions can be different portions of the same VPC or could be different VPSs. The techniques include steps for calculating a predetermined route to the second private virtual cloud location. The techniques further include steps for monitoring data for detecting an error in the first cloud location. The steps further include detecting a potential error based on the monitored data, and also verifying that the potential error is in fact a valid error. In response to verifying that the error is a valid error, further steps include performing a fast reroute of traffic to the second cloud locations along the predetermined route.

Abstract: Methods are provided to perform a name resolution triggered monitoring agent selection for full stack observability. The methods involve obtaining a name resolution request for an enterprise service to be accessed by an endpoint device. A plurality of service instances are configured to provide the enterprise service. The methods further involve determining, based on the name resolution request, a monitoring agent from a plurality of monitoring agents of a monitoring service that monitors performance of the enterprise service and selecting a service instance, from the plurality of service instances, that is associated with the monitoring agent in a name resolution record. The methods further involve providing, to the endpoint device, location information for accessing the service instance and provisioning the monitoring agent to monitor the performance of the enterprise service executed by the service instance for the endpoint device.

Abstract: In one example embodiment, at least one processor determines an impact of an event on a network to a network application based on network data and telemetry information of the network application. The telemetry information of the network application is obtained from the network application placed under conditions corresponding to the event. The at least one processor adjusts operation of the network application based on the impact.

Abstract: An authorization device obtains a registration request associated with an end device, the registration request including a new randomized media access control (MAC) address associated with the end device; determines whether the end device is authorized to use the new randomized MAC address; transmits a message to the end device with a first randomly generated number when it is determined that the end device is authorized to use the new randomized MAC address; obtains integrity information associated with the end device, the first integrity information being computed based on the first randomly generated number; transmits a request to a validation system to validate the end device based on the first integrity information; obtains an indication that the end device is validated; determines policies associated with the end device when it is determined that the end device is validated; and applies the policies to the end device.

Abstract: Techniques are described for generating an end-to-end distributed trace in connection with a cloud or datacenter environment. In one example, a server obtains target application telemetry data and external telemetry data associated with one or more correlation identifiers included in one or more network communications provided to a target application in the cloud or datacenter environment. The server aggregates the target application telemetry data and the external telemetry data based on the one or more correlation identifiers to generate an end-to-end distributed trace associated with the one or more network communications.

Abstract: Techniques for ultra-short-term resource forecasting for a network device are described. A selection of a time series algorithm from a set of time series algorithms for determining capacity right-sizing of a local resource is received, the is selection based at least in part on current local traffic conditions. Based on current local traffic conditions, parameter values to be used in the algorithm are determined, the parameters are associated with the time series algorithm selection. A number of data points for input to the time series algorithm are determined, the data points are a sequence of values representing an amount of the local resource used by the network device at a point in time and are collected at predetermined time intervals. Based on a calculation of the time series algorithm using the number of data points and parameter values, the right-size capacity of the local resource for the network device is determined and provided.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for performing enhanced authentication of a device based on physical proximity of the device to one or more other authenticated devices. An example method includes performing a first authentication of a first device or a first user and connecting the first device to a protected resource. Based on determining that the first device is within a threshold distance of a second, authenticated, device, a reauthentication interval is selected. Based on determining that the reauthentication interval has expired, a second authentication is initiated by transmitting, to the first device or a third device associated with the first user, a request for an authentication factor.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for implementing centralized path computation for routing in hybrid information-centric networking protocols implemented as a virtual network overlay. A method includes receiving an interest packet header from a forwarding router node of a network overlay. The method further includes determining an interest path of the interest packet and one or more destination router nodes of the network overlay. The method further includes computing one or more paths over the network overlay. The method further includes determining an addressing method for the one or more computed paths over the network overlay. The method further includes performing at least one of encoding each computed path in a data packet header, and encoding each computed path as state entries of each router node of the network overlay on each respective path. The method further includes returning the computed path information to the forwarding router node.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an access policy enforcement service receives a user authentication request from an end-user device. The access policy enforcement service identifies a telemetry collection intent from the user authentication request. The access policy enforcement service determines a monitoring policy based on the telemetry collection intent identified from the user authentication request. The access policy enforcement service configures, according to the monitoring policy, one or more telemetry collection agents to collect telemetry for traffic associated with the end-user device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes generating a security policy and converting the security policy into a chaos hypothesis. The method also includes initiating execution of the chaos hypothesis across a plurality of microservices within a technology stack. The method further includes receiving metrics associated with the execution of the chaos hypothesis across the plurality of microservices within the technology stack.

Abstract: Techniques to add environmental-impact and energy sustainability criteria and support to service function chains (SFCs). These techniques enabling steering of network traffic that carries energy sustainability related metadata within in an SFC based on energy sustainability or “green criteria.” This allows for achieving, for example, so-called “green Operations, Administration and Maintenance (OAM)”, whether realized with Network Service Header (NSH), Segment Routing, Multi-protocol Label Switching (MPLS), etc. In other words, these techniques enhance service functions (SFs) and SFCs to allow for finding an energy sustainable or green path in an SFC, and to allow for conveying environmental information as in-line metadata.