Abstract: In one embodiment, an authoritative edge device (AED)-server in a computer network maintains assignment of an active AED for a particular virtual local area network (VLAN), and in response to a triggered re-assignment, sends an AED change request identifying an old active AED for the particular VLAN and a new active AED for the particular VLAN (e.g., and/or corresponding backups). In response to receiving the change request, the old active AED ceases forwarding of traffic for the particular VLAN and transmits a relinquishment confirmation into the network. Also, in response to receiving the change request and the relinquishment confirmation from the old active AED, the new active AED assumes responsibility for traffic forwarding for the particular VLAN and transmits an activation confirmation into the network. The change request is then deemed completed by the AED-sever upon receipt of both the relinquishment confirmation and the activation confirmation.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an authoritative edge device (AED)-server in a computer network maintains assignment of an active AED for a particular virtual local area network (VLAN), and in response to a triggered re-assignment, sends an AED change request identifying an old active AED for the particular VLAN and a new active AED for the particular VLAN (e.g., and/or corresponding backups). In response to receiving the change request, the old active AED ceases forwarding of traffic for the particular VLAN and transmits a relinquishment confirmation into the network. Also, in response to receiving the change request and the relinquishment confirmation from the old active AED, the new active AED assumes responsibility for traffic forwarding for the particular VLAN and transmits an activation confirmation into the network. The change request is then deemed completed by the AED-sever upon receipt of both the relinquishment confirmation and the activation confirmation.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an authoritative edge device (AED)-server in a computer network maintains assignment of an active AED for a particular virtual local area network (VLAN), and in response to a triggered re-assignment, sends an AED change request identifying an old active AED for the particular VLAN and a new active AED for the particular VLAN (e.g., and/or corresponding backups). In response to receiving the change request, the old active AED ceases forwarding of traffic for the particular VLAN and transmits a relinquishment confirmation into the network. Also, in response to receiving the change request and the relinquishment confirmation from the old active AED, the new active AED assumes responsibility for traffic forwarding for the particular VLAN and transmits an activation confirmation into the network. The change request is then deemed completed by the AED-sever upon receipt of both the relinquishment confirmation and the activation confirmation.

Abstract: Devices, methods and instructions encoded on computer readable medium for implementation of a dual-adjacency between edge devices of a network site. A first edge device comprises one or more local interfaces configured for communication, via a local network, with one or more network devices co-located in a first network site. The first edge device also comprises one or more overlay interfaces configured for communication, via a core network, with one or more network devices located in one or more other network sites connected to the core network. The first edge device comprises a processor configured to establish, via at least one of the local interfaces, a site communication channel with a second edge device co-located in the first network site. The processor is further configured to establish an overlay communication channel, via at least one of the overlay interfaces, with the second edge device.

Abstract: Methods and systems may be provided for installing a route entry associated with multicast traffic to a memory. Client devices may be notified of the route entry for advertisement by an active source device. The delivery group and delivery source may be retrieved from the information for the route entry. Multicast data trees may maintain delivery group and delivery source information for access.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for designating, in an overlay transport virtualization (OTV) network connected to a data center, an edge device to act as a backup authoritative edge device (BAED) for an authoritative edge device (AED) for multicast packet encapsulation and forwarding. Data traffic associated with a given virtual local area network (VLAN) may be detected from a multicast source in the data center addressed to recipients in a site group. A mapping may be generated between the site group and a core data group in the OTV network for traffic from the multicast source. Advertisements may be sent of the mapping to edge devices in another data center across the OTV network. A similar configuration is presented for a BAED for inbound multicast traffic to a data center.

Abstract: In some embodiments, edge devices associated with a network segment are identified. One of the devices is elected as an authoritative device and any previous authoritative devices are instructed to halt forwarding network traffic to an overlay network.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes building an address resolution cache for a layer-3 router in a first layer-2 datacenter, where the address resolution cache includes a plurality of entries, each of the entries containing a host network address, a host hardware address, and a switch identifier for a switch serving a host, intercepting an address resolution flood within the first layer-2 datacenter that seeks address resolution for a host in a second layer-2 datacenter, and generating a response to the address resolution flood that indicates a source in the second layer-2 datacenter, where data indicating the source in the second layer-2 datacenter is accessed from the address resolution cache.

Abstract: A link state information correction scheme is implemented by the present disclosure. In one embodiment, the correction scheme is implemented by a reload logic module that cooperates with link state protocol logic configured on a reload routing element (or routing element that has reloaded or hard restarted). The reload logic module is configured to receive a database descriptor message at a reload routing element, where the database descriptor message is received from a neighbor routing element during an adjacency formation. The reload logic module is also configured to determine whether the database descriptor message identifies a stale version of a link state advertisement (LSA), where the LSA is self-originated by the reload routing element. The reload logic module is also configured to generate a new version of the LSA during the adjacency formation.

Abstract: Techniques are presented herein for optimizing traffic routing in overlay networks. At a first edge device located at a first site in a network, a message is received that indicates address information of a network device. The address information of the network device is stored in an address table. The address information is associated with a site identifier that identifies a second site at which the network device is located. The site identifier is mapped to an identifier associated with a second edge device that is responsible for routing traffic to network devices at the second site.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes building an address resolution cache for a layer-3 router in a first layer-2 datacenter, where the address resolution cache includes a plurality of entries, each of the entries containing a host network address, a host hardware address, and a switch identifier for a switch serving a host, intercepting an address resolution flood within the first layer-2 datacenter that seeks address resolution for a host in a second layer-2 datacenter, and generating a response to the address resolution flood that indicates a source in the second layer-2 datacenter, where data indicating the source in the second layer-2 datacenter is accessed from the address resolution cache.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a packet at an edge device in a first network site in communication with a second network site through a transport network, the packet comprising a destination address for a host at the second network site, verifying at the edge device a connection with the host, and inserting the destination address in a forwarding information base at the edge device upon verifying the connection with the host. An apparatus and logic are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: Devices, methods and instructions encoded on computer readable medium are provided herein for creation of an overlay network on a non-multicast or source specific multicast (SSM) core. In one example, virtual private network (VPN) adjacencies are established between an adjacency server and one or more edge devices each located at different network sites. A unicast replication list is then generated at the adjacency server. The unicast replication list includes the Internet Protocol addresses for each of the edge devices having VPN adjacencies with the adjacency server. The unicast replication list is then advertised to each of the edge devices for use in establishing VPN adjacencies with one another.

Abstract: Devices, methods and instructions encoded on computer readable medium for implementation of a dual-adjacency between edge devices of a network site. A first edge device comprises one or more local interfaces configured for communication, via a local network, with one or more network devices co-located in a first network site. The first edge device also comprises one or more overlay interfaces configured for communication, via a core network, with one or more network devices located in one or more other network sites connected to the core network. The first edge device comprises a processor configured to establish, via at least one of the local interfaces, a site communication channel with a second edge device co-located in the first network site. The processor is further configured to establish an overlay communication channel, via at least one of the overlay interfaces, with the second edge device.

Abstract: Devices, methods and instructions encoded on computer readable medium for implementation of a dual-adjacency between edge devices of a network site. A first edge device comprises one or more local interfaces configured for communication, via a local network, with one or more network devices co-located in a first network site. The first edge device also comprises one or more overlay interfaces configured for communication, via a core network, with one or more network devices located in one or more other network sites connected to the core network. The first edge device comprises a processor configured to establish, via at least one of the local interfaces, a site communication channel with a second edge device co-located in the first network site. The processor is further configured to establish an overlay communication channel, via at least one of the overlay interfaces, with the second edge device.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for designating, in an overlay transport virtualization (OTV) network connected to a data center, an edge device to act as a backup authoritative edge device (BAED) for an authoritative edge device (AED) for multicast packet encapsulation and forwarding. Data traffic associated with a given virtual local area network (VLAN) may be detected from a multicast source in the data center addressed to recipients in a site group. A mapping may be generated between the site group and a core data group in the OTV network for traffic from the multicast source. Advertisements may be sent of the mapping to edge devices in another data center across the OTV network. A similar configuration is presented for a BAED for inbound multicast traffic to a data center.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an authoritative edge device (AED)-server in a computer network maintains assignment of an active AED for a particular virtual local area network (VLAN), and in response to a triggered re-assignment, sends an AED change request identifying an old active AED for the particular VLAN and a new active AED for the particular VLAN (e.g., and/or corresponding backups). In response to receiving the change request, the old active AED ceases forwarding of traffic for the particular VLAN and transmits a relinquishment confirmation into the network. Also, in response to receiving the change request and the relinquishment confirmation from the old active AED, the new active AED assumes responsibility for traffic forwarding for the particular VLAN and transmits an activation confirmation into the network. The change request is then deemed completed by the AED-sever upon receipt of both the relinquishment confirmation and the activation confirmation.

Abstract: Techniques are presented herein for optimizing traffic routing in overlay networks. At a first edge device located at a first site in a network, a message is received that indicates address information of a network device. The address information of the network device is stored in an address table. The address information is associated with a site identifier that identifies a second site at which the network device is located. The site identifier is mapped to an identifier associated with a second edge device that is responsible for routing traffic to network devices at the second site.

Abstract: A link state information correction scheme is implemented by the present disclosure. In one embodiment, the correction scheme is implemented by a reload logic module that cooperates with link state protocol logic configured on a reload routing element (or routing element that has reloaded or hard restarted). The reload logic module is configured to receive a database descriptor message at a reload routing element, where the database descriptor message is received from a neighbor routing element during an adjacency formation. The reload logic module is also configured to determine whether the database descriptor message identifies a stale version of a link state advertisement (LSA), where the LSA is self-originated by the reload routing element. The reload logic module is also configured to generate a new version of the LSA during the adjacency formation.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a packet at an edge device in a first network site in communication with a second network site through a transport network, the packet comprising a destination address for a host at the second network site, verifying at the edge device a connection with the host, and inserting the destination address in a forwarding information base at the edge device upon verifying the connection with the host. An apparatus and logic are also disclosed herein.