Abstract: A transport network employs dual homing to an access network to provide connectivity from multiple network switches. Dual homing is a mechanism by which an access network employs pair of switches in the transport network as if it were connecting to a single device. Conventional arrangements for defining multiple paths from a transport network to an access network suffer from the shortcomings of potential routing loops, increased hops to the access network, and inability or inconsistency with forwarding to different types of access networks, and may involve redirecting traffic absent faults in the access network. The dual homed network switches identify the type of access network and perform switching logic corresponding to the access network type to provide comprehensive dual-homed support to the access network independently of the type of transport employed in the access network, and employ redirection only if there is a fault in the access network.

Abstract: A transport network employs dual homing to an access network to provide connectivity from multiple network switches. Dual homing is a mechanism by which an access network employs pair of switches in the transport network as if it were connecting to a single device. Conventional arrangements for defining multiple paths from a transport network to an access network suffer from the shortcomings of potential routing loops, increased hops to the access network, and inability or inconsistency with forwarding to different types of access networks, and may involve redirecting traffic absent faults in the access network. The dual homed network switches identify the type of access network and perform switching logic corresponding to the access network type to provide comprehensive dual-homed support to the access network independently of the type of transport employed in the access network, and employ redirection only if there is a fault in the access network.

Abstract: A transport network employs dual homing to an access network to provide connectivity from multiple network switches. Dual homing is a mechanism by which an access network employs pair of switches in the transport network as if it were connecting to a single device. Conventional arrangements for defining multiple paths from a transport network to an access network suffer from the shortcomings of potential routing loops, increased hops to the access network, and inability or inconsistency with forwarding to different types of access networks, and may involve redirecting traffic absent faults in the access network. The dual homed network switches identify the type of access network and perform switching logic corresponding to the access network type to provide comprehensive dual-homed support to the access network independently of the type of transport employed in the access network, and employ redirection only if there is a fault in the access network.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product for prevention of duplication and looping of multicast traffic within a multi-homed cluster of backbone edge bridges is presented. Multicast traffic is received on a first Access device (AD). The multicast traffic is forwarded from the first AD to a first Backbone edge Bridge (BEB). Any available Backbone Virtual Local Area Network (BVLAN) is chosen to forward the multicast traffic into a transport network by the first BEB. The multicast traffic is received at a second BEB from said first BEB. A determination is made whether a nickname in a packet of the multicast traffic is a nickname of the first BEB and when the nickname in the packet matches a nickname of the first BEB then abstaining from making copies of said packet for said first AD and said second AD.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product for prevention of duplication and looping of multicast traffic within a multi-homed cluster of backbone edge bridges is presented. Multicast traffic is received on a first Access device (AD). The multicast traffic is forwarded from the first AD to a first Backbone edge Bridge (BEB). Any available Backbone Virtual Local Area Network (BVLAN) is chosen to forward the multicast traffic into a transport network by the first BEB. The multicast traffic is received at a second BEB from said first BEB. A determination is made whether a nickname in a packet of the multicast traffic is a nickname of the first BEB and when the nickname in the packet matches a nickname of the first BEB then abstaining from making copies of said packet for said first AD and said second AD.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product for providing synchronization of a multi-chassis cluster using SPB I-SID trees is presented. A plurality of network devices are defined for making up a single cluster. Each network device of the cluster is configured with a same cluster Identifier (cluster ID) and each network device of the cluster signals an Service Instance Identifier (I-SID). At least one ISID multicast tree is generated, each one of the at least one multicast tree rooted at one node of the cluster. Cluster synchronization messages are exchanged between the network devices of the cluster using the at least one multicast tree.

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: 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: A transport network employs dual homing to an access network to provide connectivity from multiple network switches. Dual homing is a mechanism by which an access network employs pair of switches in the transport network as if it were connecting to a single device. Conventional arrangements for defining multiple paths from a transport network to an access network suffer from the shortcomings of potential routing loops, increased hops to the access network, and inability or inconsistency with forwarding to different types of access networks, and may involve redirecting traffic absent faults in the access network. The dual homed network switches identify the type of access network and perform switching logic corresponding to the access network type to provide comprehensive dual-homed support to the access network independently of the type of transport employed in the access network, and employ redirection only if there is a fault in the access network.