Abstract: A system and method for improving network performance when communicating between a first site network and a second site network via an IP-based transport network. The site networks include a LAN, a plurality of host/media gateways (MGWs) connected to the LAN, and pairs of first and second Site Edge Routers (SERs) connected to the LAN for handling traffic from different host/MGWs. The SERs are configured as redundant backup pairs in which each SER in a given pair backs up the other SER in the pair. Each SER is connected to a different Provider Edge (PE) router in the transport network via a dedicated link that has sufficient spare capacity to carry traffic coming from both of the SERs in a given pair of SERs in case one of the SERs fails. The SERs provide preferred routing prefixes to the PE routers, thereby guaranteeing symmetric paths for bidirectional traffic.

Abstract: A router and a method for migrating routing protocol processes or Virtual Routers (VRs) from one Route Processor (RP) to another using graceful restart procedures for maintaining packet flow to the router and assisting the router to obtain restart information. The router includes first and second RPs and a forwarding engine for forwarding packets to neighbor routers in the network. When the routing protocol process is terminated on the first RP, the neighbor routers detect a router failure and initiate the graceful restart procedures. A filter rule in the forwarding engine causes it to forward packets to the new routing protocol process on the second RP. The new process learns the network topology from the neighbor routers, and the migration is completed without packet loss and without requiring complex changes to the network protocol stack.

Abstract: A router and a method for migrating routing protocol processes or Virtual Routers (VRs) from one Route Processor (RP) to another using graceful restart procedures for maintaining packet flow to the router and assisting the router to obtain restart information. The router includes first and second RPs and a forwarding engine for forwarding packets to neighbor routers in the network. When the routing protocol process is terminated on the first RP, the neighbor routers detect a router failure and initiate the graceful restart procedures. A filter rule in the forwarding engine causes it to forward packets to the new routing protocol process on the second RP. The new process learns the network topology from the neighbor routers, and the migration is completed without packet loss and without requiring complex changes to the network protocol stack.

Abstract: A system and method for improving network performance when communicating between a first site network and a second site network via an IP-based transport network. The site networks include a LAN, a plurality of host/media gateways (MGWs) connected to the LAN, and pairs of first and second Site Edge Routers (SERs) connected to the LAN for handling traffic from different host/MGWs. The SERs are configured as redundant backup pairs in which each SER in a given pair backs up the other SER in the pair. Each SER is connected to a different Provider Edge (PE) router in the transport network via a dedicated link that has sufficient spare capacity to carry traffic coming from both of the SERs in a given pair of SERs in case one of the SERs fails. The SERs provide preferred routing prefixes to the PE routers, thereby guaranteeing symmetric paths for bidirectional traffic.