Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for providing a signaling protocol to enable a bi-directional point-to-point Ethernet Virtual Circuits (EVC) to be configured between any two network elements, as part of a network infrastructure. The bi-directional EVC is established by configuration of a source network element and a destination network element, and defines a bi-directional data path across the network infrastructure therebetween. The EVC may include one or more network elements over which the data path may traverse. The methods and systems disclosed may be applied to linear, ring and mesh network topologies.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for providing a signaling protocol to enable a bi-directional point-to-point Ethernet Virtual Circuits (EVC) to be configured between any two network elements, as part of a network infrastructure. The bi-directional EVC is established by configuration of a source network element and a destination network element, and defines a bi-directional data path across the network infrastructure therebetween. The EVC may include one or more network elements over which the data path may traverse. The methods and systems disclosed may be applied to linear, ring and mesh network topologies.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for establishing a connection between a first endpoint participating in a first protocol and a second endpoint participating in a second protocol. Establishing a connection includes establishing a virtual service endpoint participating in the first protocol on a network device that is connected to the first endpoint and the second endpoint and forwarding to the second endpoint communication directed from the first endpoint to the virtual service endpoint.

Abstract: Technology is disclosed for directing data through a network switch. One version of a network switch employs a mid-plane architecture that allows data to be directed between any link interface and any processing engine. Each time slot of data from an ingress link interface can be separately directed to any ingress processing engine. Each time slot of data from an egress processing engine can be separately directed to any egress link interface that supports the lower level protocol for the data. In one version of the switch, each processing engine in the network switch has the ability to service all of the protocols from the layers of the OSI model that are supported by the switch and not handled on the link interfaces. This allows the switch to allocate processing engine resources, regardless of the protocols employed in the data passing through the switch.

Abstract: Technology is disclosed for directing data through a network switch. One version of a network switch employs a mid-plane architecture that allows data to be directed between any link interface and any processing engine. Each time slot of data from an ingress link interface can be separately directed to any ingress processing engine. Each time slot of data from an egress processing engine can be separately directed to any egress link interface that supports the lower level protocol for the data. In one version of the switch, each processing engine in the network switch has the ability to service all of the protocols from the layers of the OSI model that are supported by the switch and not handled on the link interfaces. This allows the switch to allocate processing engine resources, regardless of the protocols employed in the data passing through the switch.