Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises creating, in a computing network, a loop-free routing topology comprising a plurality of routing arcs for reaching a destination device, each routing arc comprising a first network device as a first end of the routing arc, a second network device as a second end of the routing arc, and at least a third network device configured for routing any network traffic along the routing arc toward the destination device via any one of the first or second ends of the routing arc; and causing the network traffic to be forwarded along at least one of the routing arcs to the destination device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving at a virtual controller operating at a network device, global parameters for a plurality of virtual machines located in a first network site and in communication with a second network site through a switch, converting at the virtual controller, the global parameters into global overlay network parameters, and transmitting the global overlay network parameters to the switch for use in automatically creating a global network overlay. The global overlay network parameters define an end-to-end network extending from the virtual machines in the first network site to a plurality of virtual machines in the second network site. An apparatus and logic are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises creating, in a computing network, a loop-free routing topology comprising a plurality of routing arcs for reaching a destination network node, each routing arc comprising a first network node as a first end of the routing arc, a second network node as a second end of the routing arc, and at least a third network node configured for routing any network traffic along the routing arc toward the destination node via any one of the first or second ends of the routing arc, at least one of the first, second, or third network nodes are implemented as a ring-based network having a prescribed ring topology; and establishing loop-free label switched paths for reaching the destination network node via the routing arcs of the loop-free routing topology, the label switched paths independent and distinct from any attribute of the prescribed ring topology.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises detecting a traffic condition by a network device in a loop-free routing topology comprising routing arcs for reaching a destination device, each routing arc comprising a first edge, a second edge, and at least a third network device configured for routing any network traffic along the routing arc toward the destination device and exiting via any one of the first or second edges of the routing arc, the traffic condition proximate to the first edge of at least one of the routing arcs in which the network device is positioned; and the network device initiating load balancing based on sending a management frame over a data plane of the at least one routing arc toward the corresponding second edge, the management frame requesting a change in load balancing for at least one of an identified traffic class based on the detected traffic condition.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises creating, in a computing network, a loop-free routing topology comprising a plurality of routing arcs for reaching a destination network node, each routing arc comprising a first network node as a first end of the routing arc, a second network node as a second end of the routing arc, and at least a third network node configured for routing any network traffic along the routing arc toward the destination node via any one of the first or second ends of the routing arc, the loop-free routing topology providing first and second non-congruent paths; and forwarding bicasting data, comprising a data packet in a first direction from a network node and a bicasted copy of the data packet in a second direction from the network node, concurrently to the destination node respectively via the first and second non-congruent paths.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving at a virtual controller operating at a network device, global parameters for a plurality of virtual machines located in a first network site and in communication with a second network site through a switch, converting at the virtual controller, the global parameters into global overlay network parameters, and transmitting the global overlay network parameters to the switch for use in automatically creating a global network overlay. The global overlay network parameters define an end-to-end network extending from the virtual machines in the first network site to a plurality of virtual machines in the second network site. An apparatus and logic are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises creating, in a computing network, a loop-free routing topology comprising a plurality of routing arcs for reaching a destination device, each routing arc comprising a first network device as a first end of the routing arc, a second network device as a second end of the routing arc, and at least a third network device configured for routing any network traffic along the routing arc toward the destination device via any one of the first or second ends of the routing arc; and causing the network traffic to be forwarded along at least one of the routing arcs to the destination device.

Abstract: A network includes routing arcs for routing network traffic to a destination. Each arc comprising nodes connected in sequence by reversible links oriented to direct network traffic to first and second edge nodes through which the network traffic exits the arc. The nodes in the arc detect a first failure. In response, the nodes exchange first management frames to reverse links in the arc so that the network traffic in the arc is directed away from the first failure toward the first edge node of the arc through which the network traffic exits the arc. The nodes detect a second failure in the arc that is spaced apart from the first failure. In response, the nodes exchange second management frames to freeze incoming edges of parent arcs to prevent network traffic in the corresponding parent arc from entering the arc.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a plurality of first connections each couple a first distribution node of a first site to a respective access device. A second connection between the first distribution node and a first edge router is configured to not forward traffic associated with a first set of virtual local area networks (VLANs). It is determined whether the second distribution node is reachable from the first distribution node through the first edge router and a second edge router. The second distribution node is configured to forward traffic associated with the first set of VLANs to the second edge router. In response to a determination that the second distribution node is unreachable, the second connection is configured to forward traffic associated with the first set of VLANs. Traffic associated with the first set of one or more VLANs may be forwarded across the second connection to the first edge router.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises creating, in a computing network, a loop-free routing topology comprising a plurality of routing arcs for reaching a destination device, each routing arc comprising a first network device as a first end of the routing arc, a second network device as a second end of the routing arc, and at least a third network device configured for routing any network traffic along the routing arc toward the destination device via any one of the first or second ends of the routing arc; and load balancing the network traffic along the routing arcs based on traffic metrics obtained at the first and second ends of the routing arcs, including selectively sending a backpressure command to a first one of the routing arcs supplying at least a portion of the network traffic to a congested one of the routing arcs.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes configuring a local network element as an autonomic registrar for a designated network domain; establishing an autonomic control plane (“ACP”) between the local network element and one or more remote network elements identified by local network element as a remote neighbor; designating a locally-defined subnet at the local network element to be extended to each of the one or more remote network elements; and executing an ACP command at the local network element, wherein the executing triggers a message to each of the one or more remote network elements, the message including information regarding the designated local subnet. The information included in the message is used by each of the remote network elements to auto-resolve its Locator/Identifier Separation Protocol (“LISP”) configuration, enabling the designated local subnet to be extended to each of the one or more remote network elements.

Abstract: A network includes routing arcs for routing network traffic to a destination. Each arc comprising nodes connected in sequence by reversible links oriented to direct network traffic to first and second edge nodes through which the network traffic exits the arc. The nodes in the arc detect a first failure. In response, the nodes exchange first management frames to reverse links in the arc so that the network traffic in the arc is directed away from the first failure toward the first edge node of the arc through which the network traffic exits the arc. The nodes detect a second failure in the arc that is spaced apart from the first failure. In response, the nodes exchange second management frames to freeze incoming edges of parent arcs to prevent network traffic in the corresponding parent arc from entering the arc.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises detecting a traffic condition by a network device in a loop-free routing topology comprising routing arcs for reaching a destination device, each routing arc comprising a first edge, a second edge, and at least a third network device configured for routing any network traffic along the routing arc toward the destination device and exiting via any one of the first or second edges of the routing arc, the traffic condition proximate to the first edge of at least one of the routing arcs in which the network device is positioned; and the network device initiating load balancing based on sending a management frame over a data plane of the at least one routing arc toward the corresponding second edge, the management frame requesting a change in load balancing for at least one of an identified traffic class based on the detected traffic condition.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises creating, in a computing network, a loop-free routing topology comprising a plurality of routing arcs for reaching a destination device, each routing arc comprising a first network device as a first end of the routing arc, a second network device as a second end of the routing arc, and at least a third network device configured for routing any network traffic along the routing arc toward the destination device via any one of the first or second ends of the routing arc; and causing the network traffic to be forwarded along at least one of the routing arcs to the destination device.

Abstract: A network includes multiple routing arcs for routing network traffic to a destination. Each arc comprising nodes connected in sequence by reversible links oriented away from a node initially holding a cursor toward one of first and second edge nodes through which the network traffic exits the arc. Each node includes a network device. The nodes in the arc detect a first failure in the arc. Responsive to the detecting the first failure, the nodes exchange first management frames over a data plane within the arc in order to transfer the cursor from the node initially holding the cursor to a first node proximate the first failure and reverse links in the arc as appropriate so that the network traffic in the arc is directed away from the first failure toward the first edge node of the arc through which the network traffic is able to exit the arc.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a first network, a second network, and a core network connecting the first network to the second network. The first network includes a first set of two or more network devices, wherein the first network has a first spanning tree associated therewith. Similarly, the second network includes a second set of two or more network devices, wherein the second network has a second spanning tree associated therewith, wherein the second spanning tree is separate from the first spanning tree.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods and systems for enabling a migration of network elements from a first location to a second location remote from the first location without changing the Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, subnet mask, and/or default gateway of the network elements. The first location has a first Locator/Identifier Separation Protocol (LISP) router configured on a stick and the second location having a second LISP router configured on a stick. Both the first LISP router and the second LISP router are on the same subnet. Effectively, LISP provides a Layer 3 extension stretching a subnet across the first location and the second location (Stretched Subnet Mode (SSM)). By implementing LISP routers in this manner, system engineers can migrate network elements easily between two locations.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises creating, in a computing network, a loop-free routing topology comprising a plurality of routing arcs for reaching a destination device, each routing arc routing any network traffic along the routing arc toward the destination device via any one of first or second ends of the corresponding routing arc, the creating including forming a buttressing arc having an originating end joined to a first of the routing arcs and a terminating end joined to a second of the routing arcs, the buttressing arc inheriting from the first routing arc a first height to the destination device, the first height of the first routing arc higher than a corresponding second height of the second routing arc; and causing the network traffic to be forwarded, to the destination device, via the buttressing arc and at least one of the first routing arc or the second routing arc.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises creating, in a computing network, a loop-free routing topology comprising a plurality of routing arcs for reaching a destination network node, each routing arc comprising a first network node as a first end of the routing arc, a second network node as a second end of the routing arc, and at least a third network node configured for routing any network traffic along the routing arc toward the destination node via any one of the first or second ends of the routing arc, at least one of the first, second, or third network nodes are implemented as a ring-based network having a prescribed ring topology; and establishing loop-free label switched paths for reaching the destination network node via the routing arcs of the loop-free routing topology, the label switched paths independent and distinct from any attribute of the prescribed ring topology.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods and systems for enabling a migration of network elements from a first location to a second location remote from the first location without changing the Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, subnet mask, and/or default gateway of the network elements. The first location has a first Locator/Identifier Separation Protocol (LISP) router configured on a stick and the second location having a second LISP router configured on a stick. Both the first LISP router and the second LISP router are on the same subnet. Effectively, LISP provides a Layer 3 extension stretching a subnet across the first location and the second location (Stretched Subnet Mode (SSM)). By implementing LISP routers in this manner, system engineers can migrate network elements easily between two locations.