Abstract: A networking environment includes a first node and a second node configured as Ethernet Virtual Private Networking (EVPN) peers on an EVPN subnet that is coupled to a Layer 3 VPN over a core network. The first node receives a first multicast join request from a third node in the core network, the first multicast join request including a source address and multicast group address of a source of a multicast stream. The first node determines that the source address and the multicast group address for the source are behind the EVPN subnet at the second node. The first node sends to the second node, a control plane join request message that includes a receiver identifier that identifies the third node as a receiver of the multicast stream, the receiver identifier enabling the second node to forward the multicast stream directly into the core network to the third node.

Abstract: A networking environment includes a first node and a second node configured as Ethernet Virtual Private Networking (EVPN) peers on an EVPN subnet that is coupled to a Layer 3 VPN over a core network. The first node receives a first multicast join request from a third node in the core network, the first multicast join request including a source address and multicast group address of a source of a multicast stream. The first node determines that the source address and the multicast group address for the source are behind the EVPN subnet at the second node. The first node sends to the second node, a control plane join request message that includes a receiver identifier that identifies the third node as a receiver of the multicast stream, the receiver identifier enabling the second node to forward the multicast stream directly into the core network to the third node.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for performing bit indexed explicit replication (BIER) using multiprotocol label switching (MPLS). For example, one method involves receiving a packet that includes a MPLS label. The packet also includes a multicast forwarding entry. The method also involves determining, based on the value of the MPLS label, whether to use the multicast forwarding entry to forward the packet. The method further includes forwarding the packet.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a router includes one or more processors and one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media coupled to the one or more processors. The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media include instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the router to perform operations including receiving software-defined networking in a wide area network (SD-WAN) policies from a component of an SD-WAN network. The operations also include establishing a session with a mobile device and receiving information associated with the mobile device in response to establishing the session with the mobile device. The operations further include filtering the SD-WAN policies based on the information associated with the mobile device to generate SD-WAN device-specific policies and communicating the SD-WAN device-specific policies to the mobile device.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a method usable in a network that has a combination of mLDP-capable and BIER-capable devices. The disclosed method includes advertising, by an mLDP-capable multicast source, an indication of a BIER edge router that it has determined is usable as a path between the BIER devices and the mLDP-capable multicast source. A provider edge router can include in a multicast join message both an indication of the mLDP-capable multicast source as well as the indication of the BIER router advertised as being usable as the path to the mLDP-capable multicast source. The BIER devices can communicate with each other to pass a multicast join message to the BIER edge router that is indicated as being usable as the path to the mLDP-capable multicast source.

Abstract: Disclosed is the generation of a bit-indexed forwarding table (BIFT) that can include a plurality of entries, each such entry corresponding to a bit position of a plurality of bit positions, where each such bit position represents an egress network node of a plurality of egress network nodes, and the generating configures the BIFT to be used in forwarding a packet to one or more of the plurality of egress network nodes, based at least in part on a bit string in the packet. The generating includes selecting a bit position of the plurality of bit positions as a selected bit position, creating an entry of the plurality of entries (where the entry corresponds to the selected bit position), identifying a neighbor node associated with the selected bit position, and updating one or more fields of the entry with neighbor information regarding the neighbor node.

Abstract: A method comprises, at a first router configured to perform Bit Index Explicit Replication (BIER) for forwarding of multicast packets in a network, storing configuration information that indicates that the first router belongs to multiple subdomains of a BIER domain, and is able to forward the multicast packets for a virtual private network on the multiple subdomains. The method further comprises, during an auto-discovery procedure, generating an auto-discovery message to include an auto-discovery route and route attributes that indicate the multiple subdomains, and sending the auto-discovery message to a second router of the virtual private network the network.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for generating a bit-indexed forwarding table (BIFT) that includes a plurality of entries, each of which corresponds to a bit position of a number of bit positions. Each such bit position represents an egress network node of a plurality of egress network nodes. The BIFT is generated from an existing BIFT that includes a number of existing BIFT entries. Further, the generating configures the BIFT to be used in forwarding a packet to one or more of the egress nodes, based at least in part on a bit string in the packet. In one embodiment, the generating includes selecting a bit position of the plurality of bit positions as a selected bit position, creating an entry of the plurality of entries, and converting an existing BIFT entry of the plurality of existing BIFT entries to the entry of the plurality of entries.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes identifying a number of target network apparatuses within a network to which a first network apparatus belongs, generating a first message including a reply-required indication and encoded identities for the plurality of target network apparatuses, sending the first message through the network, where the network is configured to deliver a copy of the first message to each of the target network apparatuses using a point-to-multipoint packet-forwarding architecture, receiving one or more second messages from one or more of the target network apparatuses, respectively, where each of the one or more second messages is generated as a reply to the first message by one of the one or more target network apparatuses, and identifying which of the plurality of target network apparatuses failed to respond to the first message based on the received one or more second messages.

Abstract: A computer network efficiently provides a multicast network flow to a multicast recipient across a multihomed network element. The multihomed network element includes network devices that receive multicast data from a source of a multicast network flow. Each particular network device that received the multicast data publishes a notification indicating that the multicast network flow is available from the particular network device. The computer network receives a subscription to the multicast network flow from a multicast recipient, and determines whether to bridge the multicast data across the multihomed network element based on a multicast configuration of the computer network. The multihomed network element provides the multicast data to the multicast recipient from at least one of the particular network devices that received the multicast data from the source of the multicast network flow.

Abstract: An IP multicast group may include a plurality of group members corresponding to a plurality of host receivers that are connected to router nodes of a multicast distribution tree and joined in the multicast group. At least some of the router nodes may store a plurality of group member indicator bits associated with the multicast group. Each group member indicator bit may be assigned to a respective one of the group members and indicate whether the respective group member is reachable downstream from the router node. During IP multicast, the router node may receive an IP multicast message having a destination address field, a source address field, and a payload field. The payload field may include one or more data items of a multicast data stream. The destination address field may include a multicast group address for addressing communications to the multicast group.

Abstract: In one example embodiment, a server generates a candidate instantiation of virtual applications among a plurality of hosts in a data center to support a multicast stream. The server provides, to a first set of agents corresponding to a first set of the plurality of hosts, a command to initiate a test multicast stream. The server provides, to a second set of agents corresponding to a second set of the plurality of hosts, a command to join the test multicast stream. The server obtains, from the second set of agents, a message indicating whether the second set of agents received the test multicast stream. If the message indicates that the second set of agents received the test multicast stream, the server causes the virtual applications to be instantiated in accordance with the candidate instantiation of the virtual applications.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for performing fast fail-over. One method involves receiving a packet at a primary forwarder node of a core network, determining whether the packet was received from a secondary forwarder node of the core network, via a tunnel, and, in response to a determination that the packet was received via the tunnel, forwarding the packet to another node in the core network. The tunnel communicatively couples the primary forwarder node and the secondary forwarder node. The primary forwarder node and the secondary forwarder node communicatively couple a local network and the core network. The packet was transmitted from the local network.

Abstract: Methods and network devices are disclosed for multicast traffic steering in a communications network. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, at a node in a network, a multicast message comprising an incoming message bit array and a tree identifier value. The embodiment further includes selecting a bit indexed forwarding table stored at the node and corresponding to the tree identifier value, accessing within the selected forwarding table an entry corresponding to an intended destination node for the message, and forwarding, to a neighboring node identified in the accessed entry, a copy of the message comprising a forwarded message bit array in place of the incoming message bit array. An embodiment of a network device includes one or more network interfaces and a processor adapted to perform steps of the method.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a first label-distribution-protocol (LDP) session is established between a first interface of a first computing device and a second computing device, while a second LDP session is established between a second interface and the second computing device. The method may further comprise receiving a request from a third computing device to subscribe to a multicast group, storing an association between a first label, the multicast group, and the first interface, and sending, to the second computing device via the first LDP session, an indication that the first label is associated with the multicast group. Further, the method may include receiving a request from a fourth computing device to subscribe to the multicast group, storing an association between a second label, the multicast group and, the second interface, and sending, via the second LDP session, an indication that the second label is associated with the multicast group.

Abstract: Methods, network devices and computer readable media are disclosed for traffic-engineered forwarding through a new form of bit indexed explicit replication. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, at an ingress node of a network, a message associated with a message flow, obtaining a message bit array corresponding to the message flow, encapsulating the message with the message bit array to form an encapsulated message, and forwarding the encapsulated message into the network. Bit positions in the message bit array are assigned to separate segments of a path or tree in the network, and an explicit path or tree for the message flow is defined as an end to end connection of multiple segments assigned bit positions having a first bit value in the message bit array.

Abstract: Seamless multipoint label distribution protocol (mLDP) transport over a bit index explicit replication (BIER) core may be provided. First, it may be determined that a first plurality of network devices comprise BIER edge routers. Then, in response to determining that the first plurality of network devices comprise BIER edge routers, a Targeted Label Distribution Protocol (T-LDP) session may be created between a first one of the first plurality of network devices and a second one of the first plurality of network devices. Next, an address of a peer device connected to the second one of the first plurality of network devices may be advertised by the second one of the first plurality of network devices over the T-LDP session.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for performing fast fail-over. One method involves electing a first node as a designated forwarder node and electing a second node as a backup designated forwarder node. Prior to detecting a loss of connectivity between the designated forwarder node and the local network, the method elects both the designated forwarder node and the backup designated forwarder node, and the designated forwarder node forwards to a core network at least a first packet received from a local network. Subsequent to detecting a loss of connectivity, using the backup designated forwarder node to forward an instance of a second packet to the core network. In one embodiment, the backup designated forwarder node forwards an instance of the second packet, via a tunnel, to the designated forwarder node, which then forwards the instance of the second packet to the core network following the loss of connectivity.

Abstract: In one illustrative example, a network node connected in a network fabric may identify that it is established as part of a multicast distribution tree for forwarding multicast traffic from a source node to one or more host receiver devices of a multicast group. In response, the network node may propagate in the network fabric a message for advertising the network node as a candidate local source node at which to join the multicast group. The message for advertising may include data such as a reachability metric. The propagation of the message may be part of a flooding of such messages in the network fabric. The network node serving as the candidate local source node may thereafter “locally” join a host receiver device in the multicast group at the network node so that the device may receive the multicast traffic from the source node via the network node.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a router includes one or more processors and one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media coupled to the one or more processors. The one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media include instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the router to perform operations including receiving software-defined networking in a wide area network (SD-WAN) policies from a component of an SD-WAN network. The operations also include establishing a session with a mobile device and receiving information associated with the mobile device in response to establishing the session with the mobile device. The operations further include filtering the SD-WAN policies based on the information associated with the mobile device to generate SD-WAN device-specific policies and communicating the SD-WAN device-specific policies to the mobile device.