Abstract: A method of routing data in an anycast environment includes sending an instruction from an intelligent route reflector device to an anycast router associated with an anycast network. The instruction signals the anycast router to statically pin up to an initial service node corresponding to a network service. The initial service node is associated with an anycast address. The method includes identifying prefixes of Internet protocol (IP) addresses of customer endpoints that communicate with the anycast network via the anycast router, and sending a route advertisement to a service node router associated with the initial service node. The route advertisement instructs the service node router to send an advertisement to the anycast network announcing that the service node router is a next best hop for data traffic related to the network service and bound for a customer endpoint having an IP address that includes any of the identified prefixes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a route update in a network are disclosed. For example, the method receives at least one route update from a customer edge (CE) device by a centralized routing registry. The method identifies at least one interface of a provider edge (PE) device associated with the CE device, and forwards the at least one route update to the at least one interface of the provider edge (PE) device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing for providing a Virtual Private Network (VPN) identifier on a packet network are disclosed. For example the method configures a provider edge (PE) router and a customer edge (CE) router with a set of link local labels for each virtual private network (VPN), wherein said set of link local labels is used to identify a VPN membership. The method also generates a master virtual route forwarding (VRF) table on the PE router for routes that are allowed into an interface to the CE router.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing dynamic route advertisement based on IP-Sec security associations are disclosed. The method receives a notification for an establishment, a deletion or a modification of a security association for a sub-network. The method then adds or deletes a route for the sub-network based on the security association and dynamically advertises the added or deleted route to one or more peer devices. In one embodiment, the method also receives an advertisement for an added or deleted route from a peer device, identifies at least one IP-Sec client for receiving the advertisement, and establishes or deletes one or more security associations for the at least one identified IP-Sec client.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a hierarchical structure for routing over packet networks are disclosed. The method first receives one or more packets from at least one customer endpoint device with a Customer Edge (CE) functionality, wherein said one or more packets are destined for a destination node. The method locates a route for routing said one or more packets by consulting an interface specific routing table. The method then forwards said one or more packets towards said destination node using said route.

Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments comprise a method that can comprise, via an Ethernet Channel Service Unit (ECSU), providing a packet conversion between a Serial Wide Area Network (WAN) protocol and an Ethernet network protocol. The ECSU can be adapted to provide access to a network service between a first device adapted to communicate using an Ethernet protocol via the Ethernet network and a second device adapted to communicate using a serial protocol via the Serial WAN.

Abstract: A system for advertising routing updates is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a route reflector having a controller element that generates from a routing update a plurality of dissimilar routing advertisements transmitted in whole or in part to one or more provider edge routers operating in a packet-switched communication system. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method of selecting a virtual private network access server. In a particular embodiment, the method includes receiving a request from a client device to access a network resource via a virtual private network (VPN). The method also includes sending operational data related to each of a plurality of VPN access servers to the client device. The method also includes receiving a selection of one of the plurality of VPN access servers from the client device and communicatively connecting the client device with the selected one of the VPN access servers.

Abstract: Method and system are disclosed for selecting a tunnel server in a virtual private network that is closest to a user device. The user device may be equipped with location reporting equipment, such as a GPS module. When the user device connects to the VPN, it automatically uses the tunnel server that is nearest based on geographical coordinates provided by the location reporting equipment. Selection of the closest tunnel server may be performed by the user device itself, or it may be performed by a network server. Where more than one tunnel servers are near to the user device, the tunnel server may be selected based on load balancing objectives.