Abstract: Embodiments generally relate to enabling configuration in networks. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a message from an edge configuration device, wherein the message contains shortest path bridging (SPB) configuration information. The method also includes performing an intermediate system-to-intermediate system (IS-IS) configuration in response to receiving the message.

Abstract: Nodes on a link state protocol controlled Ethernet network implement a link state routing protocol such as IS-IS. Nodes assign an IP address or I-SID value per VRF and then advertise the IP addresses or I-SID values in IS-IS LSAs. When a packet is to be forwarded on the VPN, the ingress node identifies the VRF for the packet and performs an IP lookup in customer address space in the VRF to determine the next hop and the IP address or I-SID value of the VRF on the egress node. The ingress node prepends an I-SID or IP header to identify the VRFs and then creates a MAC header to allow the packet to be forwarded to the egress node on the link state protocol controlled Ethernet network. When the packet is received at the egress node, the MAC header is stripped from the packet and the appended I-SID or IP header is used to identify the egress VRF.

Abstract: Nodes on a link state protocol controlled Ethernet network implement a link state routing protocol such as IS-IS. Nodes assign an IP address or I-SID value per VRF and then advertise the IP addresses or I-SID values in IS-IS LSAs. When a packet is to be forwarded on the VPN, the ingress node identifies the VRF for the packet and performs an IP lookup in customer address space in the VRF to determine the next hop and the IP address or I-SID value of the VRF on the egress node. The ingress node prepends an I-SID or IP header to identify the VRFs and then creates a MAC header to allow the packet to be forwarded to the egress node on the link state protocol controlled Ethernet network. When the packet is received at the egress node, the MAC header is stripped from the packet and the appended I-SID or IP header is used to identify the egress VRF.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product for providing Virtual Routing and Forwarding (VRF) and gateway Media Access Controller (MAC) distribution is presented. At least one subnet associated with a Layer 2 Virtual Switching Network (L2VSN) is provided on a network device. A message is propagated to a distributed Datapath. Network devices install the message as a routable MAC address on the L2VSN for the Layer 3 Virtual Switching Network/Virtual Routing and Forwarding (L3VSN/VRF) associated with the message. Edge devices route packets on the L2VSN addressed to the gateway MAC address.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product for providing Virtual Routing and Forwarding (VRF) and gateway Media Access Controller (MAC) distribution is presented. At least one subnet associated with a Layer 2 Virtual Switching Network (L2VSN) is provided on a network device. A message is propagated to a distributed Datapath. Network devices install the message as a routable MAC address on the L2VSN for the Layer 3 Virtual Switching Network/Virtual Routing and Forwarding (L3VSN/VRF) associated with the message. Edge devices route packets on the L2VSN addressed to the gateway MAC address.

Abstract: A new type of Provider Edge (PE) device is used to support BGP-based IP-VPNs. Each VRF instance in a PE device is associated with a dedicated IP address (Service IP address). Each service IP address is dedicated to a VRF in a PE device. The service IP address is distributed by BGP for VPN route association. Customer/VRF IP packets can be sent to a VRF instance in the egress PE device using service IP header encapsulation (with IP Destination Address=Service IP address of egress PE's VRF & IP Source Address=Service IP address of ingress PE's VRF). This obviates the need for explicit tunnels in the core.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product for providing multi-homing techniques for SPB networks is presented. A set of UNI nodes that receive multicast packets are determined based on Backbone Media Access Control-Destination Address (BMAC-DA)/I-Tag Service Identifier (I-SID) of received multicast packets for multicast packets within a transport network. A separate Egress Port Mask is determined for each Backbone-Virtual Local Area Network (B-VLAN) of the transport network, wherein the Egress Port Mask is determined such that only one UNI node of the set of UNI nodes forwards said multicast packets. A set of UNI copies of said multicast packets are filtered out by applying the Egress Port Mask, wherein copies that are not in the Egress Port Mask are dropped. Copies of multicast packets that are not dropped are sent out.

Abstract: A VRRP router group can operate in either a standard VRRP mode or a distributed gateway mode in which all VRRP routers generate VRRP control packets but transmit those packets only to local access network-side hosts. The rate of VRRP control packet generation may be decreased in the distributed gateway mode relative to the standard mode. Moreover, VRRP router CPUs may cease processing of VRRP control packets in the distributed gateway mode.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product for performing optimized distributed routing for stretched data center models through updating route advertisements based on changes to Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) Tables is presented. Port members of an Internet Protocol I (IP) interface or Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) are distinguished into Access Interfaces which only lead to hosts on said subnet and Trunk Interfaces which lead to other redundant routers on said subnet. In the subnet of a network a network route for the subnet is always advertised. A separate host route corresponding to an Internet Protocol (IP) address of each Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) table record that points to an Access Interface is advertised and route advertisements are changed for a host in said subnet for tracked access interfaces.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for routing multicast data across multiple multicast routing domains connected by a shortest path bridging (SPB) network is presented. A Shortest Path Bridging (SPB) edge router of an SPB network connected to a PIM network is configured as a Rendezvous Point (RP). A message is received at the RP, and in response, the RP forms a first data structure including multicast sender information. The RP floods the SPB network with a second message containing the first data structure, allocates an Identifier to the multicast stream, and sends a second data structure with sender information. An edge router with multicast receive interest responds with the second data structure with multicast receive interest information. As a result, a receiver in a second network has knowledge of devices in a first network such that multicast traffic is able to be routed between different networks connected to the SPB network.

Abstract: IP Multinetting on a local area network is simulated by performing VLAN translation at a port connecting to the local area network. This allows IP addresses from multiple subnets to be associated with a single VLAN on the Local Area Network (LAN), while allowing the core switch to process the packets with a one-to-one correspondence between IP Subnet and VLAN. When a packet is received from the local area network at an IP multinetting port, the VLAN ID will be read to determine if the packet contains the IP Multinetting VLAN ID. The IP Subnet address will also be checked to see if the packet is associated with an IP Subnet that is part of the Multinetting. If so, the multinetting VLAN ID will be changed to an IP Subnet specific VLAN ID before the packet is processed by the core switch.

Abstract: IP Multinetting on a local area network is simulated by performing VLAN translation at a port connecting to the local area network. This allows IP addresses from multiple subnets to be associated with a single VLAN on the Local Area Network (LAN), while allowing the core switch to process the packets with a one-to-one correspondence between IP Subnet and VLAN. When a packet is received from the local area network at an IP multinetting port, the VLAN ID will be read to determine if the packet contains the IP Multinetting VLAN ID. The IP Subnet address will also be checked to see if the packet is associated with an IP Subnet that is part of the Multinetting. If so, the multinetting VLAN ID will be changed to an IP Subnet specific VLAN ID before the packet is processed by the core switch.

Abstract: Embodiments herein include systems and methods for providing a mechanism for tunneled data transport within a dual homed access network. A tunnel manager, at a first network connectivity device in a transport network, identifies the transport network configured to interconnect at least two access networks for transporting data traffic between one or more end stations connected to the access networks. The first network connectivity device is coupled to a first access network. The tunnel manager identifies a second network connectivity device. The second network connectivity device is coupled to the first access network to provide the first access network dual homed access to the transport network via the first and second network connectivity devices. The tunnel manager creates a virtual tunnel that connects the first and second network connectivity devices to a third network connectivity device across the transport network.

Abstract: Techniques disclosed herein include systems and methods for providing multicast Virtual Private Network (VPN) support for IP VPN networks, including IP VPN-lite networks. Such techniques provide multicast VPN capability over an IP unicast core network by creating a multicast service VLAN and IP interface, which is used for multicast control traffic exchange between VPN instances. Multicast VPN data traffic is then carried over unicast IP-in-IP tunnels. A given ingress Provide Edge (PE) replicates the multicast traffic for all receiving egress PEs, and adds control information so that the multicast traffic appears as unicast traffic to the Core network. With such a technique, a given Core network only needs to run an IP unicast that is free of VPN unicast or multicast route or tree information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for routing multicast data across multiple multicast routing domains connected by a shortest path bridging (SPB) network is presented. A Shortest Path Bridging (SPB) edge router of an SPB network connected to a PIM network is configured as a Rendezvous Point (RP). A message is received at the RP, and in response, the RP forms a first data structure including multicast sender information. The RP floods the SPB network with a second message containing the first data structure, allocates an Identifier (ISID) to the multicast stream, and sends a second data structure with sender information. An edge router with multicast receive interest responds with the second data structure with multicast receive interest information. As a result, a receiver in a second network has knowledge of devices in a first network such that multicast traffic is able to be routed between different networks connected to the SPB network.

Abstract: Techniques for routing data between network area are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method for routing data between layer 2 network areas of backbone bridges comprising the steps of receiving data at a network element containing an internally terminated Network to Network Interface (NNI) for a plurality of network areas, identifying a destination address associated with the data, determining a network area of the plurality of network areas associated with the data, and performing one or more data flow treatments associated with the data using the internally terminated Network to Network Interface (NNI).

Abstract: Techniques disclosed herein include systems and methods for providing multicast Virtual Private Network (VPN) support for IP VPN networks, including IP VPN-lite networks. Such techniques provide multicast VPN capability over an IP unicast core network by creating a multicast service VLAN and IP interface, which is used for multicast control traffic exchange between VPN instances. Multicast VPN data traffic is then carried over unicast IP-in-IP tunnels. A given ingress Provide Edge (PE) replicates the multicast traffic for all receiving egress PEs, and adds control information so that the multicast traffic appears as unicast traffic to the Core network. With such a technique, a given Core network only needs to run an IP unicast that is free of VPN unicast or multicast route or tree information.

Abstract: Embodiments herein include systems and methods for providing a mechanism for tunneled data transport within a dual homed access network. A tunnel manager, at a first network connectivity device in a transport network, identifies the transport network configured to interconnect at least two access networks for transporting data traffic between one or more end stations connected to the access networks. The first network connectivity device is coupled to a first access network. The tunnel manager identifies a second network connectivity device. The second network connectivity device is coupled to the first access network to provide the first access network dual homed access to the transport network via the first and second network connectivity devices. The tunnel manager creates a virtual tunnel that connects the first and second network connectivity devices to a third network connectivity device across the transport network.

Abstract: IP Multinetting on a local area network is simulated by performing VLAN translation at a port connecting to the local area network. This allows IP addresses from multiple subnets to be associated with a single VLAN on the Local Area Network (LAN), while allowing the core switch to process the packets with a one-to-one correspondence between IP Subnet and VLAN. When a packet is received from the local area network at an IP multinetting port, the VLAN ID will be read to determine if the packet contains the IP Multinetting VLAN ID. The IP Subnet address will also be checked to see if the packet is associated with an IP Subnet that is part of the Multinetting. If so, the multinetting VLAN ID will be changed to an IP Subnet specific VLAN ID before the packet is processed by the core switch.

Abstract: A first node includes ports and a controller to receive a test packet at a first one of the ports. The first node determines whether the received test packet has a destination address that matches one or more predefined addresses associated with a second node. Presence of a loop in a communications network in which the first and second nodes are located is indicated in response to detecting receipt of the test packet containing the matching destination address.