Abstract: A system and method may include receiving a new flow request, the new flow request for requesting provisioning of a flow between a computer and the server, identifying a path of one or more network elements between the computer and the server, and determining whether provisioning the flow between the computer and the server violates a constraint. The system and method may further include updating an oversubscription factor and available bandwidth for an interface of each of the one or more network elements in the event the constraint is not violated, and determining whether a second path exists between the computer and the server in the event the constraint is violated.

Abstract: A device enables a disabled timer state for a link aggregation group (LAG) link if a disabled timer condition is determined for the LAG link, and enables a disabled state for the LAG link if a disabled condition is determined for the LAG link in the disabled timer state.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for providing access communications between customer locations and a core network service edge. Access flows are handled as carrier-tagged flows through a packet switched network comprising network elements that interpret and manipulate carrier tag values associated with traffic-bearing data frames. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, a discard eligibility indication may be provided with the data frames.

Abstract: A device enables a disabled timer state for a link aggregation group (LAG) link if a disabled timer condition is determined for the LAG link, and enables a disabled state for the LAG link if a disabled condition is determined for the LAG link in the disabled timer state.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for performing automated testing and trouble isolation of a communications link in an access network is described. Communications link testing may occur without taking the communications link out of service for the duration of the test.

Abstract: An approach is provided for monitoring interface utilization. Bandwidth data for an interface is collected during a configurable time interval, and a peak utilization of the interface over the time interval is determined using a plurality of incremented policers to measure the collected bandwidth data. An implementation of which is system that includes a monitoring module configured to collect bandwidth data for an interface over a configurable time interval, a plurality of incremented policers configured to measure the collected bandwidth data, and an analysis module configured to determine a peak utilization of the interface over the time interval using the measurements of the plurality of incremented policers.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for performing automated testing and trouble isolation of a communications link in an access network is described. Communications link testing may occur without taking the communications link out of service for the duration of the test.

Abstract: A method is provided that includes setting a first oversubscription factor of a control plane for an interface, measuring forwarding plane utilization on the interface, and calculating a second oversubscription factor of the control plane for the interface using the measured forwarding plane utilization as compared with a target forwarding plane utilization on the interface. The method also includes determining whether to update the first oversubscription factor based upon the calculated second oversubscription factor.

Abstract: An approach is provided for bit error rate characterization. A test signal representing one or more Ethernet frames exhibiting a particular bit error rate is generated. The test signal is output to a device under test. Traffic is received from the device under test. A determination is made as to whether a link failure condition exists at a port on an Ethernet switch.

Abstract: An approach is provided for sharing capacity among multiple logical routers. A request from one of a plurality of logical routers is received for reserving bandwidth corresponding to a port shared by the logical routers. Reservation of the bandwidth is confirmed within a forwarding plane before granting the request to the one logical router.

Abstract: An approach is provided for adjusting network interface metrics to optimize transmissions across a network. A measurement of performance of a network interface is made, wherein the network interface is configured to provide traffic across an optical network. A determination is made regarding whether the measured performance satisfies a predetermined threshold. A network metric value of the network interface is adjusted if the measured performance of the network interface satisfies the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: An approach is provided for monitoring and analyzing network traffic. Traffic is monitored during a configurable time interval. A number of bursts associated with the traffic are tracked. A measured traffic rate is generated based on the number of bursts occurring within the time interval. The measured traffic rate is compared with a committed rate to determine if the measured traffic rate exceeds the committed rate.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for providing access communications between customer locations and a core network service edge. Access flows are handled as carrier-tagged flows through a packet switched network comprising network elements that interpret and manipulate carrier tag values associated with traffic-bearing data frames. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, a discard eligibility indication may be provided with the data frames.

Abstract: An approach is provided for managing off-network virtual connections. A first management channel is mapped to a second management channel for transport of management information over an optical time-division-multiplexing (TDM) network that includes an off-network portion. The off-network portion corresponds to a third party provider. The first management channel corresponds to an electrical connection and the second management channel corresponds to an optical connection.

Abstract: An approach is provided for auto-bandwidth adjustment of allocated bandwidth for a traffic tunnel over a network. A determination is made regarding a traffic load over the tunnel, where the tunnel meters traffic in accordance with the bandwidth allocation. A determination is made regarding whether the traffic load triggers an adjustment threshold, where the adjustment threshold is set to provide a desired headroom below the bandwidth allocation. And the bandwidth allocation is adjusted when the adjustment threshold is triggered to provide the desired headroom between the adjusted bandwidth allocation and the traffic load.

Abstract: An approach is provided for auto-bandwidth adjusting bandwidth allocations for traffic-engineered tunnels used to carry traffic along a network. Traffic over the tunnel is sampled at a first interval period and at a second interval period, where the second interval period is shorter than the first interval period. A determination is made as to whether the sampled traffic taken using the second interval period is greater than the bandwidth allocation, and the bandwidth allocation is adjusted upward based upon a determination that the sampled traffic taken using the second interval period is greater than the bandwidth allocation. Also, a determination can be made as to whether the sampled traffic taken using the first interval period is less than the bandwidth allocation, and the bandwidth allocation can be adjusted downward based upon a determination that the sampled traffic taken using the first interval period is less than the bandwidth allocation.

Abstract: A system and method may include receiving a new flow request, the new flow request for requesting provisioning of a flow between a computer and the server, identifying a path of one or more network elements between the computer and the server, and determining whether provisioning the flow between the computer and the server violates a constraint. The system and method may further include updating an oversubscription factor and available bandwidth for an interface of each of the one or more network elements in the event the constraint is not violated, and determining whether a second path exists between the computer and the server in the event the constraint is violated.

Abstract: A method may include forming a first path from a first node to a second node and transmitting data via the first path. The method also includes measuring a performance parameter associated with transmitting data via the first path and determining whether the measured performance parameter meet a required performance parameter. The method also includes sending a notification to a customer associated with the first path when the measured performance parameter does not meet the required performance parameter, where the notification indicates that the first path is unavailable.

Abstract: A method may include forming a primary label switching path (LSP) from a first node to a second node, where the primary LSP has a path metric that is less than a predetermined value. The method may also include detecting a failure in the primary LSP and identifying a second path from the first node to the second node that has a path metric that is less than the predetermined value. The method may further include routing data via the second path in response to the failure in the primary LSP.

Abstract: A device detects a signal condition for a link aggregation group (LAG) link, compares the detected signal condition to a signal threshold range, and enables one of a disabled state or a disabled timer state for the LAG link if the detected signal condition is outside the signal threshold range.