Abstract: A receiving node receives a virtual LDP initialization (vInit) message from a first node, where the vinit message comprises a request to establish a vLDP session between a requesting node and a target node. If the receiving node does not own a destination address of the vinit message, the receiving node is determined to be a relay node. The relay node inserts a relay label into the vinit message, where the relay label is an outgoing label that the relay node uses to reach the first node, and forwards the vinit message toward the destination address. If the receiving node owns the destination address, the receiving node is determined to be the target node, which extracts a stack of relay labels from the vinit message. The relay labels are used to define a return path to the requesting node for messages transmitted over the vLDP session.

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: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for controlling multicast traffic flows through provider edge routers. In some examples, a multicast traffic of one or more multicast traffic flows is received from a multicast source at a first provider edge router of a plurality of provider edge routers. A multicast routing message including a loopback address of the first provider edge router can be originated at the first provider edge router. The multicast routing message can be flooded into a multicast core network for controlling traffic in the one or more multicast flows through the multicast core network to the first provider edge router. Subsequently, multicast joins can be received at the first provider edge router for establishing the one or more multicast flows through the multicast core network based on the multicast routing message including the loopback address of the first provider edge router.

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: Functionality for creating a bit routing table for use in a bit-indexed explicit replication (“BIER”) environment in disclosed herein. In one embodiment, this functionality includes receiving information from a host, and determining whether the information comprises a MAC address that is a bit-indexed explicit replication (“BIER”) MAC address. In response to determining that the information comprises a BIER MAC address, this functionality creates an entry corresponding to the MAC address in a bit routing table. This functionality also analyzes the information to determine a bit position that is associated with the host, and also determines a port via which the host is reachable. The functionality updates the bit routing table by storing information identifying the bit position and the port in the entry, such that the bit position and the port both correspond to the MAC address. This functionality can be used to route packets in a BIER environment.

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 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: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for controlling multicast traffic flows through provider edge routers. In some examples, a multicast traffic of one or more multicast traffic flows is received from a multicast source at a first provider edge router of a plurality of provider edge routers. A multicast routing message including a loopback address of the first provider edge router can be originated at the first provider edge router. The multicast routing message can be flooded into a multicast core network for controlling traffic in the one or more multicast flows through the multicast core network to the first provider edge router. Subsequently, multicast joins can be received at the first provider edge router for establishing the one or more multicast flows through the multicast core network based on the multicast routing message including the loopback address of the first provider edge router.

Abstract: A receiving node receives a virtual LDP initialization (vInit) message from a first node, where the vInit message comprises a request to establish a vLDP session between a requesting node and a target node. If the receiving node does not own a destination address of the vInit message, the receiving node is determined to be a relay node. The relay node inserts a relay label into the vInit message, where the relay label is an outgoing label that the relay node uses to reach the first node, and forwards the vInit message toward the destination address. If the receiving node owns the destination address, the receiving node is determined to be the target node, which extracts a stack of relay labels from the vInit message. The relay labels are used to define a return path to the requesting node for messages transmitted over the vLDP session.

Abstract: Functionality for creating a bit routing table for use in a bit-indexed explicit replication (“BIER”) environment in disclosed herein. In one embodiment, this functionality includes receiving information from a host, and determining whether the information comprises a MAC address that is a bit-indexed explicit replication (“BIER”) MAC address. In response to determining that the information comprises a BIER MAC address, this functionality creates an entry corresponding to the MAC address in a bit routing table. This functionality also analyzes the information to determine a bit position that is associated with the host, and also determines a port via which the host is reachable. The functionality updates the bit routing table by storing information identifying the bit position and the port in the entry, such that the bit position and the port both correspond to the MAC address. This functionality can be used to route packets in a BIER environment.

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: Methods, network devices and computer readable media are disclosed relating to a communication network. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a message comprising a message bit array. The message bit array identifies egress nodes for the message within a bit indexed explicit replication (BIER) domain of a communications network. A first bit position in the message bit array represents a first one or more of the egress nodes, and a bit value at the first bit position indicates that the message is to be forwarded to one of the first one or more of the egress nodes. The method further includes accessing a first forwarding table entry corresponding to the first bit position, determining whether the first bit position is an anycast bit position having multiple corresponding forwarding table entries, and forwarding the message to one of the first one or more of the egress nodes.

Abstract: Methods, network devices and computer readable media are disclosed for replication and switching of Internet Protocol (IP) packets in professional media networks. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, at a first node in a network configured for bit indexed explicit replication (BIER), and via a replication fabric within the network, a packet comprising a packet bit array. Each receiver of a plurality of non-BIER-enabled receivers reachable via the replication fabric is represented by a relative bit position in the packet bit array, and a respective IP address is assigned to each receiver. The method further includes determining that an intended non-BIER-enabled receiver of the packet is a local receiver of the first node, obtaining the IP address assigned to the local receiver, removing the packet bit array from the packet and forwarding the packet, without the packet bit array, to the local receiver via unicast IP forwarding.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for performing bit indexed explicit replication (BIER) using IPv6. For example, one method involves receiving, at a node, a packet that includes an IP header. The packet also includes a multicast forwarding entry. The method also involves comparing the multicast forwarding entry with forwarding information stored by the node and selecting a neighbor based on the comparing. The method further includes forwarding the packet to the neighbor.

Abstract: Methods and network devices are disclosed for failure protection in traffic-engineered bit indexed explicit replication networks. In one embodiment, a method includes determining a protected link or node in a network, where the protected link or node is included in a designated path to be taken by a message through the network to a destination node, the designated path is encoded in a message bit array carried by the message, and assigned bit positions in the message bit array represent respective network links along the designated path. The method further includes determining a backup path to the destination node from a feeder node adapted to forward a message carrying the message bit array into the protected link or node, and populating an entry in a path update table stored at the feeder node. In one embodiment a network device includes a network interface and a processor configured to carry out the methods.

Abstract: Methods and network devices are disclosed for traversal, within a network configured for bit indexed forwarding, of a subnetwork having nodes not configured for bit indexed forwarding. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, from a next-hop upstream node configured for bit indexed forwarding, an incoming tree descriptor message comprising a tree identifier and a descriptor bit array. Bit values in the descriptor bit array identify intended destination nodes to be reached via a network tree identified by the tree identifier. The embodiment further includes replicating and modifying the incoming tree descriptor message to generate an outgoing tree descriptor message for a next-hop downstream node within the network tree. In addition, the embodiment includes sending the outgoing tree descriptor message to the next-hop downstream node and sending to the next-hop upstream node a local label allocated to the tree identifier.

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 multicast listener device floods a path lookup request to search for a multicast tree, and may then receive path lookup responses from candidate nodes on the multicast tree, where each of the path lookup responses indicates a unicast routing cost from a respective candidate node to the multicast listener device, and where each of the candidate nodes is configured to suppress a path lookup response if a total path latency from a source of the multicast tree to the multicast listener device via that respective candidate node is greater than a maximum allowable path latency. The multicast listener device may then select a particular candidate node as a join point for the multicast tree based on the particular node having a lowest associated unicast routing cost to the multicast listener device from among the candidate nodes, and joins the multicast tree at the selected join point.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an offload platform is an compute platform, adjunct to a router or other packet switching device, that performs packet processing operations including determining an egress forwarding value corresponding to the next-hop node of the packet switching device to which to send an offload-platform processed packet. The offload platform downloads forwarding information from the router, and augments it, such as, but not limited to, representing interfaces of the router as identifiable virtual interface(s) on the offload platform, and including each of one or more next-hop nodes of the router represented as an identifiable virtual adjacency and identifiable tunnel (e.g., identified by the egress forwarding value). In one embodiment, the egress forwarding value is an Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) label or Segment Routing Identifier. The router identifies packets of certain packet flows to send to the adjunct offload platform, rather than processing per its routing information base.

Abstract: Methods and network devices are disclosed relating to a multi-area communication network employing bit indexed explicit replication (BIER). In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, at a node in a communications network, a message comprising a first message bit array. The method further includes detecting a bit value of a first relative bit position in the first message bit array, where the first relative bit position represents a first group of destination nodes in the communications network, and evaluating the bit value of the first relative bit position in order to determine whether to encapsulate the received message for delivery to the first group of destination nodes. An embodiment of a network device comprises a processor adapted to implement an embodiment of the method.