Abstract: The invention is directed to managing changes to a configuration of routers connected in a ring network architecture. Embodiments of the invention alleviate risks to services carried over a ring of IP/MPLS routers when configuration changes are made to the ring, such as inserting a router into, or removing a router from, the ring. To that end, embodiments of the invention automate some steps of such a configuration change operation that were previously performed manually, and coordinate those steps with other steps of the operation using a procedure stored as instructions on a computer readable media and executed by a computer system in order to effect and validate a correct sequencing of the steps.

Abstract: The invention is directed to managing changes to a configuration of routers connected in a ring network architecture. Embodiments of the invention alleviate risks to services carried over a ring of IP/MPLS routers when configuration changes are made to the ring, such as inserting a router into, or removing a router from, the ring. To that end, embodiments of the invention automate some steps of such a configuration change operation that were previously performed manually, and coordinate those steps with other steps of the operation using a procedure stored as instructions on a computer readable media and executed by a computer system in order to effect and validate a correct sequencing of the steps.

Abstract: A multiple endpoint path for providing endpoint redundancy is described. Selected active end nodes in a digital communications network are configured by a network management system to have compatible alternate endpoint paths. When one of the selected active endpoint paths fails, the network management system automatically switches the endpath from the previously active endpoint to the alternate end point path.