Abstract: The present invention provides a Learn. Map, Measure and Assure (LEMMA) framework deployed as multi-cloud platform. The LEMMA framework comprises a learn module configured to receive a service level agreement, convert the service level agreement to a service level objective, refine the service level objective and store the service level objective in machine-readable record, and a map module configured to determine a list of available resources via a service broker. The service broker is configured to select a best priced resources from a list of available resources that matches with the machine-readable service level objective. A measure module configured to generate monitored data by continuously monitoring the allocated best priced resources.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for mapping transport segment labels to packet network endpoints using a mapping server. In some implementations, an end point address in an edge domain is received from an edge router, a mapping of one of the end point address to a transport segment label is received from a network device, the mapping is stored in a non-transitory memory device, and the mapping is transmitted to the edge router.

Abstract: A method and system for flow tracing for use in a packet-optical network is disclosed herein. A device in the packet-optical network may receive a packet including a header and payload. The device may read intent information from the header, and translate the intent information to generate a device-specific action in an optical layer to provide one or more globally unique identifiers (IDs) associated with the device. The device may execute the device-specific action in the optical layer to generate a response including the globally unique IDs corresponding to the intent, where the response forms part of the flow trace. The device may associate the response with the intent, and encode the response for downstream data forwarding. The device may further add multi-layer proof-of-transit (POT) information to the response that may be used to securely verify the path indicated in the SmartFlow flow trace.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for determining a property of, or isolating a fault in, a transport segment. A packet portion test packet can be transmitted over a packet portion of a transport segment. Packet portion results can be received in response to the packet portion test packet. A transport portion test packet can be transmitted over a transport portion of the transport segment. Transport portion results can be received in response to the transport portion test packet. The packet portion results and the transport portion results can be correlated to generate correlated test results. The correlated test results can be processed to determine the property of, or isolate the fault in, the transport segment.

Abstract: A method and system for packet-optical in-band telemetry (POINT) that may be used in a packet-optical network is disclosed herein. An intermediate POINT device may receive a packet including at least a header and a payload at a packet layer. The POINT device may read intent information from the header, and the intent information may indicate a type of telemetry data to be collected. The POINT device may translate the intent information from the packet layer to generate a device-specific action in an optical layer to the type of telemetry data indicated by the intent. The POINT device may execute the device-specific action in the optical layer to generate a response corresponding to the intent, associate the response with the intent, and encode the response in the packet layer for downstream data forwarding.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for managing latency in a network with a plurality of switches, each switch having client side ports and line side ports. A required bandwidth for each link between connected pairs of the plurality of switches is received. A client-side capacity value for each switch is received. An initial undersubscription factor is calculated based on the required bandwidths and the client-side capacity values. A desired undersubscription factor is calculated for each switch based on the initial undersubscription factor and the client side capacity values. A desired bandwidth is calculated for each link between connected pairs of the plurality of switches based on the required bandwidths and the desired undersubscription factors.

Abstract: A method and system for elastic timestamping for use in computing and networking applications including telemetry is disclosed herein. A device that is part of a system may initially generate a variable size timestamp or elastic n-dimensional timestamp (ENTS) with n time dimensions fields for a corresponding event in the system for which timing or temporal order information is needed. The device may select a subset of the n time dimensions fields of the ENTS based on a relevant time granularity of the corresponding event to generate a compact ENTS with a reduced size. The device may communicate the compact ENTS for further processing. In an example, the ENTS may be generated for a device-specific action performed to gather telemetry data in response to received telemetry intent at the device, and the compact ENTS may be communicated with a corresponding telemetry response.

Abstract: A method and system for flow tracing for use in a packet-optical network is disclosed herein. A device in the packet-optical network may receive a packet including a header and payload. The device may read intent information from the header, and translate the intent information to generate a device-specific action in an optical layer to provide one or more globally unique identifiers (IDs) associated with the device. The device may execute the device-specific action in the optical layer to generate a response including the globally unique IDs corresponding to the intent, where the response forms part of the flow trace. The device may associate the response with the intent, and encode the response for downstream data forwarding. The device may further add multi-layer proof-of-transit (POT) information to the response that may be used to securely verify the path indicated in the SmartFlow flow trace.

Abstract: A system and methods for reliable telemetry are disclosed herein. In an example of reliable in-band telemetry in a communications network, intent information for a destination device may be generated at a network device indicating a type of telemetry data to be collected. The network device may update a locally stored invertible Bloom function (IBF) by applying one or more hash function to the intent information, a destination identifier (ID) associated with the destination device, and/or a local timestamp, and periodically forward the locally stored IBF to the destination device. The network device may receive a notification message by the destination device that the intent information is missing at the destination device and re-forward the intent information to the destination device. In another example, a network device may maintain and periodically forward a locally stored IBF based on response data and the destination ID.

Abstract: A method and system for packet-optical in-band telemetry (POINT) that may be used in a packet-optical network is disclosed herein. An intermediate POINT device may receive a packet including at least a header and a payload at a packet layer. The POINT device may read intent information from the header, and the intent information may indicate a type of telemetry data to be collected. The POINT device may translate the intent information from the packet layer to generate a device-specific action in an optical layer to the type of telemetry data indicated by the intent. The POINT device may execute the device-specific action in the optical layer to generate a response corresponding to the intent, associate the response with the intent, and encode the response in the packet layer for downstream data forwarding.

Abstract: A network device may receive first network configuration data that include pre-upgrade network information. The network device may then determine, based on the first network configuration data, at least one first network invariant. Based on the first network invariant, the network device may determine a first set of hash values indicating a pre-upgrade network state. The network device may receive second network configuration data that includes post-upgrade network information. The network device may then determine, based on the second network configuration data, at least one second network invariant. Based on the second network invariant, the network device may determine a second set of hash values indicating a post-upgrade network state. The network device may then compare the first set of hash values and the second set of hash values to verify an upgrade state of a network node associated with the at least one first and second network invariants.

Abstract: A network device may receive network configuration data indicating a topology of a plurality of network nodes in a network. Based on the received network configuration data, the network device may generate intra-layer and inter-layer upgrade dependency graphs. Based on the intra-layer upgrade dependency graph, the network device may determine an intra-layer upgrade depth for each of the plurality of network nodes. The network device may also determine, based on the inter-layer upgrade dependency graph, an inter-layer upgrade depth for each of the plurality of network nodes. The network device may then determine, based on the intra-layer and inter-layer upgrade depths, an upgrade schedule for the plurality of the network nodes. The upgrade schedule may indicate an order in which the plurality of network nodes is to be upgraded. Based on the upgrade schedule, the network device may transmit at least one instruction to upgrade the plurality of network nodes.

Abstract: A packet optical network may include a packet optical gateway node that is configured to advertise a segment label to other nodes in the network where the segment label is used by a source node in place of a conventional segment routing label when the source node generates the list of labels included in the header of a data packet while establishing a path through a network. The segment label differs from a conventional segment routing label in that the segment label indicates the L0/L1 device or path as opposed to the L2/L3 device indicated by a conventional segment routing label.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for managing latency in a network with a plurality of switches, each switch having client side ports and line side ports. A required bandwidth for each link between connected pairs of the plurality of switches is received. A client-side capacity value for each switch is received. An initial undersubscription factor is calculated based on the required bandwidths and the client-side capacity values. A desired undersubscription factor is calculated for each switch based on the initial undersubscription factor and the client side capacity values. A desired bandwidth is calculated for each link between connected pairs of the plurality of switches based on the required bandwidths and the desired undersubscription factors.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for determining a property of, or isolating a fault in, a transport segment. A packet portion test packet can be transmitted over a packet portion of a transport segment. Packet portion results can be received in response to the packet portion test packet. A transport portion test packet can be transmitted over a transport portion of the transport segment. Transport portion results can be received in response to the transport portion test packet. The packet portion results and the transport portion results can be correlated to generate correlated test results. The correlated test results can be processed to determine the property of, or isolate the fault in, the transport segment.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for mapping transport segment labels to packet network endpoints using a mapping server. In some implementations, an end point address in an edge domain is received from an edge router, a mapping of one of the end point address to a transport segment label is received from a network device, the mapping is stored in a non-transitory memory device, and the mapping is transmitted to the edge router.

Abstract: A packet optical network may include a packet optical gateway node that is configured to advertise a segment label to other nodes in the network where the segment label is used by a source node in place of a conventional segment routing label when the source node generates the list of labels included in the header of a data packet while establishing a path through a network. The segment label differs from a conventional segment routing label in that the segment label indicates the L0/L1 device or path as opposed to the L2/L3 device indicated by a conventional segment routing label.

Abstract: Systems and methods for discovery of a controller in an OpenFlow network may include using an OpenFlow capable switch to discover the controller without the help of other components, such as DHCP. The link discovery protocol may be configured on the switch and the discovery process may use an out-of-band or an in-band communication. In one example, a link discovery protocol packet is sent out of all ports of a switch that meet the eligibility criteria. The response is guaranteed because of a TTL like mechanism in the packet. Each port on a switch that receives this link discovery protocol packet takes an action depending on its current state.

Abstract: A scheme for virtualizing a remote physical device, e.g., customer premises equipment (CPE), at a cloud-based data center connected to a network. In one embodiment, a virtual switch operating at the CPE is operative to monitor device events at the CPE. When a device is connected to a CPE port, a virtual device port is created that is operative with a Software Defined Network (SDN) architecture. Responsive to an indication that a new SDN-compliant virtual device port is created, an SDN controller is operative to facilitate creation of a data tunnel between the CPE's virtual switch and a virtual switch of the data center.

Abstract: A method for providing network performance monitoring using a performance database manager (PDM) is disclosed. A PDM has a PDM state manager, a communications server (COM server), a communications client (COM client), and an application database (AppDB). The PDM is configured to communicate with a network controller and a switch running a service monitoring (SERMON) client. A list of one or more switches, one or more hosted services, and one or more applications is determined. A request for service monitoring (SERMON) data is received from one or more applications running on a network controller. The request is sent to a SERMON client. A response is received from the SERMON client.