Abstract: A method and apparatus that includes processing for providing distributed communication routing that, in one embodiment, begins by obtaining registration information from a plurality of forwarding engines, for identifying the plurality of forwarding engines based on the registration information, for generating at least one specific forwarding table for at least one corresponding forwarding engine of the plurality of forwarding engines, and for forwarding the specific forwarding table to the corresponding forwarding engine. In an alternate embodiment, the processing determines internal routing connections and external routing connections for the plurality of forwarding engines after identifying the forwarding engines, generates at least one external forwarding table for at least some of the plurality of forwarding engines, and generates at least one specific internal forwarding table for a corresponding forwarding engine. The tables are forwarded to the corresponding forwarding engine or engines.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing distributed communication routing includes a route computation engine operably coupled to a plurality of forwarding engines within a logically distributed router. Registration information is provided to the route computation processor by the forwarding engines, and the forwarding engines are recognized and identified by the route computation processor in response. The registration information includes information regarding interfaces or connections amongst the forwarding engines and external routers and other external destinations. The route computation processor provides control information to at least one of the plurality of forwarding engines for distributed routing maintenance and/or specific data forwarding operations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that includes processing for providing distributed communication routing that begins by obtaining registration information from a plurality of forwarding engines. The processing continues by identifying the plurality of forwarding engines based on the registration information. Having done this, the process proceeds to generate at least one specific forwarding table for at least one corresponding forwarding engine of the plurality of forwarding engines. The processing then continues by forwarding the specific forwarding table to the corresponding forwarding engine. In an alternate embodiment, the processing determines internal routing connections and external routing connections for the plurality of forwarding engines after identifying the forwarding engines. The alternate processing continues by generating at least one external forwarding table, which provides forwarding information to routers external to a distributed router, for at least some of the plurality of forwarding engines.