Abstract: In one embodiment, a list of border node next hop options is maintained in a memory. The list of border node next hop options includes one or more of border nodes that may be utilized to reach one or more prefixes. An index value is associated with each border node of the list of border node next hop options. A list of labels is also maintained in the memory. The index value of each border node is associated with a corresponding label for a path to reach that border node. When a change to the one or more border nodes is detected, the list of border node next hop options is updated to remove a border node. However, a label for the path to reach the border node is maintained in the list of labels for at least a period of time.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising three memory portions and logic for programming the memory portions is presented. The first memory portion comprises a plurality of first data structures, each which includes an IGP label and an adjacency identifier that identifies one of a plurality of outgoing interfaces in the network element. The second memory portion comprises a plurality of IGP load-halancing entries, each of which includes two or more reference values that point to two or more of the plurality of lirsi data structures. The third memory portion comprises a plurality of BGP load-balancing entries, each of which includes an index value and a pointer. The fourth memory portion comprises a plurality of second data structures, each of which includes a network address identifier and a unique value associated with two or more of the plurality of BGP load-balancing entries.

Abstract: An apparatus for VPN fast convergence in MPLS networks is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a first memory portion, a second memory portion, and a first logic for programming the memory portions. The first memory portion comprises a plurality of first data structures, where each of the plurality of first data structures includes an IGP label and an adjacency identifier that identifies one of a plurality of outgoing interfaces associated with the apparatus, where each IGP label indicates a Label Switched Path (LSP) through a network. The second memory portion comprises a plurality of second data structures, where each of the plurality of second data structures includes a network address identifier, a VPN label associated with the network address identifier, and a pointer that indicates one of the plurality of first data structures in the first memory portion, where each VPN label identifies a VPN that is reachable over the network.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a list of border node next hop options is maintained in a memory. The list of border node next hop options includes one or more of border nodes that may be utilized to reach one or more prefixes. An index value is associated with each border node of the list of border node next hop options. A list of labels is also maintained in the memory. The index value of each border node is associated with a corresponding label for a path to reach that border node. When a change to the one or more border nodes is detected, the list of border node next hop options is updated to remove a border node. However, a label for the path to reach the border node is maintained in the list of labels for at least a period of time.

Abstract: In one embodiment, one or more virtual private network (VPN) prefixes may be grouped at a network node into sets having shared network border node next-hop options, where each border node has a defined index value associated therewith. Also, a list of VPN labels associated with each VPN prefix may be maintained by the network node, where each VPN label is associated with a border node of a particular set by a corresponding index value. Further, the network node may determine a particular border node for traffic to be forwarded, along with the defined index value. The network node may then apply the index value to select an associated VPN label, and may affix the selected VPN label to the traffic for forwarding.

Abstract: Disclosed are, inter alia, methods, apparatus, computer-storage media, mechanisms, and means associated with subsets of the Forward Information Base (FIB) distributed among line cards in a switching device; especially wherein one or more of the line cards does not contain the complete FIB, and this line card forwards packets, for which it does not have the forwarding information, to another line card which has the forwarding information for the packet.

Abstract: Disclosed are, inter alia, methods, apparatus, computer-storage media, mechanisms, and means associated with subsets of the Forward Information Base (FIB) distributed among line cards in a switching device; especially wherein one or more of the line cards does not contain the complete FIB, and this line card forwards packets, for which it does not have the forwarding information, to another line card which has the forwarding information for the packet.

Abstract: In one embodiment, one or more virtual private network (VPN) prefixes may be grouped at a network node into sets having shared network border node next-hop options, where each border node has a defined index value associated therewith. Also, a list of VPN labels associated with each VPN prefix may be maintained by the network node, where each VPN label is associated with a border node of a particular set by a corresponding index value. Further, the network node may determine a particular border node for traffic to be forwarded, along with the defined index value. The network node may then apply the index value to select an associated VPN label, and may affix the selected VPN label to the traffic for forwarding.

Abstract: An apparatus for two-level load-balancing in MPLS networks is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a first memory portion, a second memory portion, a third memory portion, a fourth memory portion, and logic for programming the memory portions. The first memory portion comprises a plurality of first data structures, where each of the plurality of first data structures includes an IGP label and an adjacency identifier that identifies one of a plurality of outgoing interfaces in the network element, where each IGP label stored in any one of the plurality of first data structures indicates an LSP through the MPLS network.

Abstract: An apparatus for VPN fast convergence in MPLS networks is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a first memory portion, a second memory portion, and a first logic for programming the memory portions. The first memory portion comprises a plurality of first data structures, where each of the plurality of first data structures includes an IGP label and an adjacency identifier that identifies one of a plurality of outgoing interfaces associated with the apparatus, where each IGP label indicates a Label Switched Path (LSP) through a network. The second memory portion comprises a plurality of second data structures, where each of the plurality of second data structures includes a network address identifier, a VPN label associated with the network address identifier, and a pointer that indicates one of the plurality of first data structures in the first memory portion, where each VPN label identifies a VPN that is reachable over the network.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for use with an associative memory, such as for, but not limited to implementing access control list and quality of service features in a communications or computing device. Multiple lists, such as access control lists, may be manipulated to typically produce a single list of entries with continuation indications, or the lists might be provided from another source. An associative memory is programmed with entries with each entry typically including a corresponding continuation level indication or flag. One or more lookup words are then generated and provided to the associative memory for a particular packet (or other entity) corresponding to the different continuation levels. In one implementation, a modified version of the Order Dependent Merge technique is used to generate the list of entries and to identify the corresponding continuation level or other continuation indication and the corresponding action to be performed for each entry.