Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product aspects for generating and/or using virtual node(s) (e.g., virtual SPB node(s)) in a multi-area fabric (e.g., a multi-area SPB fabric). A multi-area network includes a first network area including a first set of network nodes. The multi-area network further includes a second network area including a second set of network nodes, where the second set of network nodes is outside of the first network area. The multi-area network further includes a virtual node including a logical Intermediate System to Intermediate System (ISIS) node representing at least one of the first set of network nodes and the second set of network nodes.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product aspects for multiple instance Intermediate System to Intermediate System (IS-IS or ISIS) for a multi-area fabric. A network area in a multi-area fabric includes one or more network nodes and a boundary node shared with an other network area of the multi-area fabric outside of the network area. The boundary node can include a first ISIS instance associated with the network area and a second ISIS instance associated with the other network area. The second ISIS instance can be configured to pass information associated with the other network area to the first ISIS instance.

Abstract: Provided herein are systems and methods for providing a MAC-based redistribution policy between networks in a multi-area network. A network can have a boundary node that communicates to neighboring networks. Boundary nodes can receive policy updates that identify which services are redistributable across network boundaries. Boundary nodes can receive a packet for a service, translate the packet's encapsulation, and forward the packet across the boundary towards a destination node. Boundary nodes can forward the packet such that it originates in the second network from a virtual node.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product aspects for multiple instance Intermediate System to Intermediate System (IS-IS or ISIS) for a multi-area fabric. A network area in a multi-area fabric includes one or more network nodes and a boundary node shared with an other network area of the multi-area fabric outside of the network area. The boundary node can include a first ISIS instance associated with the network area and a second ISIS instance associated with the other network area. The second ISIS instance can be configured to pass information associated with the other network area to the first ISIS instance.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product aspects for multiple instance Intermediate System to Intermediate System (IS-IS or ISIS) for a multi-area fabric. A network area in a multi-area fabric includes one or more network nodes and a boundary node shared with an other network area of the multi-area fabric outside of the network area. The boundary node can include a first ISIS instance associated with the network area and a second ISIS instance associated with the other network area. The second ISIS instance can be configured to pass information associated with the other network area to the first ISIS instance.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product aspects for multiple instance Intermediate System to Intermediate System (IS-IS or ISIS) for a multi-area fabric. A network area in a multi-area fabric includes one or more network nodes and a boundary node shared with an other network area of the multi-area fabric outside of the network area. The boundary node can include a first ISIS instance associated with the network area and a second ISIS instance associated with the other network area. The second ISIS instance can be configured to pass information associated with the other network area to the first ISIS instance.

Abstract: Provided herein are systems and methods for providing a MAC-based redistribution policy between networks in a multi-area network. A network can have a boundary node that communicates to neighboring networks. Boundary nodes can receive policy updates that identify which services are redistributable across network boundaries. Boundary nodes can receive a packet for a service, translate the packet's encapsulation, and forward the packet across the boundary towards a destination node. Boundary nodes can forward the packet such that it originates in the second network from a virtual node.

Abstract: Provided herein are systems and methods for managing redistribution and remapping of multicast services between networks in a multi-area network. Multicast streams can be sent through networks from a source node towards a boundary node. The boundary node can receive the multicast stream, remap a source node identifier and service instance identifier, and forward the multicast stream into a second network. The boundary node can receive a route for the multicast stream. The route can be installed in a link-state database and can be used to send the multicast stream through the multi-area network from the source node to a destination node.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product aspects for multiple instance Intermediate System to Intermediate System (IS-IS or ISIS) for a multi-area fabric. A network area in a multi-area fabric includes one or more network nodes and a boundary node shared with an other network area of the multi-area fabric outside of the network area. The boundary node can include a first ISIS instance associated with the network area and a second ISIS instance associated with the other network area. The second ISIS instance can be configured to pass information associated with the other network area to the first ISIS instance.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product aspects for multiple instance Intermediate System to Intermediate System (IS-IS or ISIS) for a multi-area fabric. A network area in a multi-area fabric includes one or more network nodes and a boundary node shared with an other network area of the multi-area fabric outside of the network area. The boundary node can include a first ISIS instance associated with the network area and a second ISIS instance associated with the other network area. The second ISIS instance can be configured to pass information associated with the other network area to the first ISIS instance.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product aspects for generating and/or using virtual node(s) (e.g., virtual SPB node(s)) in a multi-area fabric (e.g., a multi-area SPB fabric). A multi-area network includes a first network area including a first set of network nodes. The multi-area network further includes a second network area including a second set of network nodes, where the second set of network nodes is outside of the first network area. The multi-area network further includes a virtual node including a logical Intermediate System to Intermediate System (ISIS) node representing at least one of the first set of network nodes and the second set of network nodes.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product aspects for multiple instance Intermediate System to Intermediate System (IS-IS or ISIS) for a multi-area fabric. A network area in a multi-area fabric includes one or more network nodes and a boundary node shared with an other network area of the multi-area fabric outside of the network area. The boundary node can include a first ISIS instance associated with the network area and a second ISIS instance associated with the other network area. The second ISIS instance can be configured to pass information associated with the other network area to the first ISIS instance.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product aspects for multiple instance Intermediate System to Intermediate System (IS-IS or ISIS) for a multi-area fabric. A network area in a multi-area fabric includes one or more network nodes and a boundary node shared with an other network area of the multi-area fabric outside of the network area. The boundary node can include a first ISIS instance associated with the network area and a second ISIS instance associated with the other network area. The second ISIS instance can be configured to pass information associated with the other network area to the first ISIS instance.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented herewith for automatically assigning a Multicast Backbone Media Access Control (“BMAC”) address to a switch (or a similar network device) newly-added to a network. Media Access Control (“MAC”) addresses (unicast addresses) that are assigned by default to the switch may be used in a process to generate a multicast BMAC address and assign the multicast BMAC address to the switch, thereby, automatically enabling communications with other network devices over the SPB network. The process involves modifying a bit of a selected unicast address to transform the address into a multicast address. The system may use the modified MAC address as the multicast BMAC address.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented herewith for automatically assigning a Multicast Backbone Media Access Control (“BMAC”) address to a switch (or a similar network device) newly-added to a network. Media Access Control (“MAC”) addresses (unicast addresses) that are assigned by default to the switch may be used in a process to generate a multicast BMAC address and assign the multicast BMAC address to the switch, thereby, automatically enabling communications with other network devices over the SPB network. The process involves modifying a bit of a selected unicast address to transform the address into a multicast address. The system may use the modified MAC address as the multicast BMAC address.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product for providing a best route selection rule is presented. A determination is made at a first edge router, whether a second edge router in a network advertises a first BMAC address and at least one other BMAC address When the second edge router advertises only a first BMAC address, then the first BMAC address is used in a routing table for a Layer 3 (L3) next hop for a route. When the second edge router advertises more than one BMAC address, at least one other BMAC address is used in the routing table for said L3 next hop for the route.

Abstract: A method apparatus and computer readable medium for preforming SPB-PIM multicast interactions is presented. A Backbone Edge Bridge (BEB) in a Shortest Path Bridging (SPB) network discovers a multicast stream originating within a Protocol-Independent Multicast (PIM) network. The BEB sends multicast information to a Rendezvous Point (RP) in the PIM network. The BEB advertises a multicast stream learned from the RP into the SPB network. The BEB receives an update that includes a receiver interest in said multicast stream and initiates PIM join procedures for permitting the receiver to receive the multicast stream.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product for distribution of routing information used in a transport network is presented. In a transport network having a plurality of edge devices and core devices, a main instance of a protocol is used for shortest path and tree computation. A multicast tree is defined per Virtual Services Network (VSN) to distribute Link State Data Base (LSDB) updates that only apply to members of said VSN. Multicast trees are built using a secondary instance of the control protocol LSDB and wherein each VSN multicast tree represents a separate instance of the secondary instance of the control protocol LSD. LSDB updates are distributed that only apply to members of the VSN using the multicast tree for the VSN.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product for providing the use of an external metric as the primary tie-breaker in ISIS route selections is presented. A set of routes are identified that are to be advertised by the router as external routes within a network. The routes are advertised by the router using a Type Length Variable (TLV), wherein the TLV contains metric information to be used as a first tiebreaker when selecting routes. The network is running an Intermediate System To Intermediate System (ISIS) protocol. The TLV includes a 32-bit or a 64-bit administrative tag sub-TLV, the TLV comprising TLV#135, TLV#235, TLV#236, and TLV#237.

Abstract: A method apparatus and computer readable medium for preforming SPB-PIM multicast interactions is presented. A Backbone Edge Bridge (BEB) in a Shortest Path Bridging (SPB) network discovers a multicast stream originating within a Protocol-Independent Multicast (PIM) network. The BEB sends multicast information to a Rendezvous Point (RP) in the PIM network. The BEB advertises a multicast stream learned from the RP into the SPB network. The BEB receives an update that includes a receiver interest in said multicast stream and initiates PIM join procedures for permitting the receiver to receive the multicast stream.