Abstract: A method for operating a network is provided. The method comprises segmenting the network into a plurality of virtual private networks, wherein each virtual private network runs on an underlying physical network; and wherein each virtual private network represents a particular context; and configuring at least some nodes within the network to send and receive traffic based on context.

Abstract: A system may include a first border network device located between a first network domain and a third network domain, and a first edge network device in the first network domain, where the first edge network device may be configured to receive a packet. The packet may be directed to a second edge network device in a second network domain. The first edge network device may also be configured to add a second label to the packet that identifies a second border network device located at the border of a second network domain and the third network domain. The third network domain may be located between the first network domain and the second network domain. The first edge network device may additionally be configured to add a first label to the packet that identifies the first border network device, and route the packet to the first border network device.

Abstract: A method for operating a network is provided. The method comprises segmenting the network into a plurality of virtual private networks, wherein each virtual private network runs on an underlying physical network; and wherein each virtual private network represents a particular context; and configuring at least some nodes within the network to send and receive traffic based on context.

Abstract: A system may include a first border network device located between a first network domain and a third network domain, and a first edge network device in the first network domain, where the first edge network device may be configured to receive a packet. The packet may be directed to a second edge network device in a second network domain. The first edge network device may also be configured to add a second label to the packet that identifies a second border network device located at the border of a second network domain and the third network domain. The third network domain may be located between the first network domain and the second network domain. The first edge network device may additionally be configured to add a first label to the packet that identifies the first border network device, and route the packet to the first border network device.

Abstract: A system may include a first border network device located between a first network domain and a third network domain, and a first edge network device in the first network domain, where the first edge network device may be configured to receive a packet. The packet may be directed to a second edge network device in a second network domain. The first edge network device may also be configured to add a second label to the packet that identifies a second border network device located at the border of a second network domain and the third network domain. The third network domain may be located between the first network domain and the second network domain. The first edge network device may additionally be configured to add a first label to the packet that identifies the first border network device, and route the packet to the first border network device.

Abstract: In some examples, an example method to minimize asymmetric routing at a network node may include maintaining a flow table including one or more records, each record indicating a packet flow and a corresponding tunnel, receiving a data packet to process at a network node, and determining whether to process the data packet as a follower node. The method may also include, responsive to a determination to process the data packet as a follower node, determining whether there is an entry in the flow table for a packet flow associated with the received packet, and, responsive to a determination that there is an entry in the flow table for the packet flow, transmitting the received data packet through a tunnel corresponding to the packet flow.

Abstract: A method for creating a secure network is provided. The method comprises establishing an overlay domain to control routing between overlay edge routers based on an underlying transport network, wherein said establishing comprises running an overlay management protocol to exchange information within the overlay domain; in accordance with the overlay management protocol defining service routes that exist exclusively within the overlay domain wherein each overlay route includes information on at least service availability within the overlay domain; and selectively using the service routes to control routing between the overlay edge routers; wherein the said routing is through the underlying transport network in a manner in which said overlay routes is shared with the overlay edge routers but not with the underlying transport network via the overlay management protocol.

Abstract: A method for routing is disclosed. The method comprises establishing an overlay network, comprising a plurality of network elements and an overlay controller; wherein the overlay controller is in communication with each network element via a secure tunnel established through an underlying transport network; receiving by the overlay controller, information from each service-hosting network element information said information identifying a service hosted at that service-hosting network element, and label associated with the service-hosting network element; identifying by the overlay controller, at least one policy that associates traffic from a site with a service; and causing by said overly controller, the at least one policy to be executed so that traffic from the site identified in the policy is routed using the underlying transport network to the service-hosting network element associated with the said service.

Abstract: A method for operating a network is provided. The method comprises segmenting the network into a plurality of virtual private networks, wherein each virtual private network runs on an underlying physical network; and wherein each virtual private network represents a particular context; and configuring at least some nodes within the network to send and receive traffic based on context.

Abstract: A method for creating a secure network is provided. The method comprises establishing an overlay domain to control routing between overlay edge routers based on an underlying transport network, wherein said establishing comprises running an overlay management protocol to exchange information within the overlay domain; in accordance with the overlay management protocol defining service routes that exist exclusively within the overlay domain wherein each overlay route includes information on at least service availability within the overlay domain; and selectively using the service routes to control routing between the overlay edge routers; wherein the said routing is through the underlying transport network in a manner in which said overlay routes is shared with the overlay edge routers but not with the underlying transport network via the overlay management protocol.

Abstract: A method for operating a network is provided. The method comprises segmenting the network into a plurality of virtual private networks, wherein each virtual private network runs on an underlying physical network; and wherein each virtual private network represents a particular context; and configuring at least some nodes within the network to send and receive traffic based on context.

Abstract: A system may include a first border network device located between a first network domain and a third network domain, and a first edge network device in the first network domain, where the first edge network device may be configured to receive a packet. The packet may be directed to a second edge network device in a second network domain. The first edge network device may also be configured to add a second label to the packet that identifies a second border network device located at the border of a second network domain and the third network domain. The third network domain may be located between the first network domain and the second network domain. The first edge network device may additionally be configured to add a first label to the packet that identifies the first border network device, and route the packet to the first border network device.

Abstract: A method for creating a secure network is provided. The method comprises establishing an overlay domain to control routing between overlay edge routers based on an underlying transport network, wherein said establishing comprises running an overlay management protocol to exchange information within the overlay domain; in accordance with the overlay management protocol defining service routes that exist exclusively within the overlay domain wherein each overlay route includes information on at least service availability within the overlay domain; and selectively using the service routes to control routing between the overlay edge routers; wherein the said routing is through the underlying transport network in a manner in which said overlay routes is shared with the overlay edge routers but not with the underlying transport network via the overlay management protocol.

Abstract: A method for creating a secure network is provided. The method comprises establishing an overlay domain to control routing between overlay edge routers based on an underlying transport network, wherein said establishing comprises running an overlay management protocol to exchange information within the overlay domain; in accordance with the overlay management protocol defining service routes that exist exclusively within the overlay domain wherein each overlay route includes information on at least service availability within the overlay domain; and selectively using the service routes to control routing between the overlay edge routers; wherein the said routing is through the underlying transport network in a manner in which said overlay routes is shared with the overlay edge routers but not with the underlying transport network via the overlay management protocol.

Abstract: A method for routing network traffic between network elements within a computer network is disclosed. The method comprises configuring the computer network to include a control plane and a forwarding plane; configuring each network element of the forwarding plane to periodically compose and transmit a control plane protocol message to every other network element of the forwarding plane, said control plane message comprising network, next-hop; and service information; via the control plane, provisioning at least some of the network elements with at least one policy to control routing of the network traffic based on at least one service; and processing the network traffic by the network elements of the forwarding plane based on the at least one policy.

Abstract: A method for creating a secure network is provided. The method comprises establishing an overlay domain to control routing between overlay edge routers based on an underlying transport network, wherein said establishing comprises running an overlay management protocol to exchange information within the overlay domain; in accordance with the overlay management protocol defining service routes that exist exclusively within the overlay domain wherein each overlay route includes information on at least service availability within the overlay domain; and selectively using the service routes to control routing between the overlay edge routers; wherein the said routing is through the underlying transport network in a manner in which said overlay routes is shared with the overlay edge routers but not with the underlying transport network via the overlay management protocol.