Abstract: A method is provided in one example and includes determining a bandwidth level associated with a link, which is provided between a first microwave transceiver and a second microwave transceiver. The link is part of a communication ring containing multiple Ethernet ring protection elements. The method also includes comparing the bandwidth level associated with the link to a threshold level. A fail-over can be triggered for a selected one of the plurality of Ethernet ring protection elements if the bandwidth is below the threshold level. In certain example embodiments, the first microwave transceiver and the second microwave transceiver can implement an adaptive modulation protocol on the link.

Abstract: In one embodiment, backbone service instance identifiers (I-SIDs) of backbone frames are modified based on flow identification of frames encapsulated therein to induce entropy into the headers of the backbone frames. Backbone packet switching devices use the modified service instance identifier to load balance the corresponding frame through the backbone network. At an exit point of the backbone network, the original backbone service instance identifier (I-SID) associated with a frame encapsulated in a backbone frame is recovered from the modified service instance identifier, with this recovery typically including determining the flow identification of the frame encapsulated in the backbone frame.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of signaling status at a routing device is provided. In this method, the routing device establishes an inter-chassis control plane channel session with a remote routing device. Here, the routing device and the remote routing device are linked to a multi-homed routing device. The routing device then synchronizes with the remote routing device by way of the inter-chassis control plane channel session to identify a state of a link from the routing device to the multi-homed routing device. The state of the link is thereafter advertised by way of Border Gateway Protocol (BGP). Additionally, a method of discovering inter-chassis communication peers via BGP between the first and remote routing devices is provided.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, by a provider edge (PE) device, a transport layer status message indicative of a defect on a pseudowire (PW) running across a core of a service provider (SP) network. The status message is translated to a service layer message indicative of the defect. The service layer message is then transmitted across an access domain of the SP network.

Abstract: In one embodiment, single-homing and active-active multi-homing is provided in a Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS). A customer edge node actively communicates frames of a same Virtual Private Network (VPN) instance with two or more VPLS nodes of a VPLS network. The VPLS nodes are configured to appropriately forward frames throughout the VPLS network: without looping of a frame sent by the same external node back to the same external node, without flooding multiple copies of a frame to the same external node, and while performing learning of addresses in forwarding tables of said VPLS nodes such that said forwarding tables of said VPLS nodes converge despite frames of the same LAN service being received by said at least two of said VPLS nodes from the same external node.

Abstract: Techniques are described which provide mechanisms for dual-homing an access ring for virtual private wire service (VPWS) Ethernet line (E-Line) services. The mechanism may provide resiliency against access ring failures and offer a restoration time of 50 msec upon failure. A method to provide such resiliency may generally include determining, at a first ring port of an access node, a ring failure in an Ethernet ring. Upon determining the first ring port of the access node is not situated on a same side of the Ethernet ring as a node designated as a ring protection link (RPL) owner, a message is transmitted on a second ring port of the access node towards a provider edge (PE) node. The message is used to activate pseudowires (PWs) at the PE node for virtual local area networks (VLANs) of the access node.

Abstract: In an example embodiment, a method of route convergence is provided. In this method, a loss of connectivity is detected along a communication route by way of an Ethernet Operations, Administration, and Maintenance (OAM) protocol. Examples of Ethernet OAM protocols include Connectivity Fault Management protocol and Ethernet Local Management Interface protocol. Thereafter, a data link layer identifier associated with the communication route is identified and this data link layer identifier is mapped to a network layer address. Convergence on an alternate communication route can then be based on the mapped network layer address.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of signaling status at a routing device is provided. In this method, the routing device establishes an inter-chassis control plane channel session with a remote routing device. Here, the routing device and the remote routing device are linked to a multi-homed routing device. The routing device then synchronizes with the remote routing device by way of the inter-chassis control plane channel session to identify a state of a link from the routing device to the multi-homed routing device. The state of the link is thereafter advertised by way of Border Gateway Protocol (BGP). Additionally, a method of discovering inter-chassis communication peers via BGP between the first and remote routing devices is provided.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of signaling status at a routing device is provided. In this method, the routing device establishes an inter-chassis control plane channel session with a remote routing device. Here, the routing device and the remote routing device are linked to a multi-homed routing device. The routing device then synchronizes with the remote routing device by way of the inter-chassis control plane channel session to identify a state of a link from the routing device to the multi-homed routing device. The state of the link is thereafter advertised by way of Border Gateway Protocol (BGP). Additionally, a method of discovering inter-chassis communication peers via BGP between the first and remote routing devices is provided.

Abstract: In one embodiment, backbone service instance identifiers (I-SIDs) of backbone frames are modified based on flow identification of frames encapsulated therein to induce entropy into the headers of the backbone frames. Backbone packet switching devices use the modified service instance identifier to load balance the corresponding frame through the backbone network. At an exit point of the backbone network, the original backbone service instance identifier (I-SID) associated with a frame encapsulated in a backbone frame is recovered from the modified service instance identifier, with this recovery typically including determining the flow identification of the frame encapsulated in the backbone frame.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes generating a test port in a network environment, positioning the test port on a network element, associating the test port with a bridge domain, and configuring a maintenance point (MP) on the test port. The method further includes using the MP on the test port for connectivity fault management (CFM) operations at a test level.

Abstract: Connectivity Fault Management (CFM) auto-provisioning using Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS) auto-discovery is described. In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises VPLS logic and configuration logic. The VPLS logic is operable at least to receive and send configuration information for a VPLS instance, where the configuration information comprises: a first value that uniquely identifies the VPLS instance; and a plurality of second values that respectively and uniquely identify a plurality of network elements that are operable to provide the VPLS instance. The configuration logic is operable at least to automatically configure, based on the first value and on the plurality of second values, a CFM association and a local maintenance endpoint (MEP) for the VPLS instance on the apparatus.

Abstract: In one embodiment a method is provided for forwarding traffic through a standby device in the event of an uplink connection failure. The method generally includes forwarding traffic received on a first downlink connection with a dual-homed device to an uplink connection with a network core, detecting a failure on the uplink connection with the network core, and in response to detecting the failure, notifying a standby device of the failure and sending a message to the dual-homed device to trigger the dual-homed device to begin forwarding traffic to the network core via a second downlink connection between the standby device and the dual-homed device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, single-homing and active-active multi-homing is provided in a Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS). A customer edge node actively communicates frames of a same Virtual Private Network (VPN) instance with two or more VPLS nodes of a VPLS network. The VPLS nodes are configured to appropriately forward frames throughout the VPLS network: without looping of a frame sent by the same external node back to the same external node, without flooding multiple copies of a frame to the same external node, and while performing learning of addresses in forwarding tables of said VPLS nodes such that said forwarding tables of said VPLS nodes converge despite frames of the same LAN service being received by said at least two of said VPLS nodes from the same external node.

Abstract: Techniques are described which provide mechanisms for dual-homing an access ring for virtual private wire service (VPWS) Ethernet line (E-Line) services. The mechanism may provide resiliency against access ring failures and offer a restoration time of 50 msec upon failure. A method to provide such resiliency may generally include determining, at a first ring port of an access node, a ring failure in an Ethernet ring. Upon determining the first ring port of the access node is not situated on a same side of the Ethernet ring as a node designated as a ring protection link (RPL) owner, a message is transmitted on a second ring port of the access node towards a provider edge (PE) node. The message is used to activate pseudowires (PWs) at the PE node for virtual local area networks (VLANs) of the access node.

Abstract: Disclosed are, inter alia, methods, apparatus, computer-storage media, mechanisms, and means for transportation of IEEE 802.1ah frames over Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) pseudowires for Virtual Private LAN Services (VPLS). The IEEE 802.1ah frames include a corresponding B-VLAN tag, while the MPLS packets including these frames do not include the corresponding B-VLAN tag, and disclosed are methods and apparatus for performing such translation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining availability of a network service having a plurality of end points are described. The apparatus and method are arranged to receive a service notification from the service end point notifying availability of a service at the service end point and indicating other service end points for said service, and to identify said service as available if all service end points for said service have notified availability for said service.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of signaling status at a routing device is provided. In this method, the routing device establishes an inter-chassis control plane channel session with a remote routing device. Here, the routing device and the remote routing device are linked to a multi-homed routing device. The routing device then synchronizes with the remote routing device by way of the inter-chassis control plane channel session to identify a state of a link from the routing device to the multi-homed routing device. The state of the link is thereafter advertised by way of Border Gateway Protocol (BGP). Additionally, a method of discovering inter-chassis communication peers via BGP between the first and remote routing devices is provided.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for managing topology changes in a Layer 2 network is provided. The method may comprise receiving a change notification at a provider edge bridging device and associating the change notification with a customer service. The method may further comprise identifying at least one destination provider edge bridging device associated with the customer service, encapsulating the change notification in a data frame and tunnelling the data frame over a tunnel comprising at least one core device to the at least one destination provider edge bridging device associated with the customer service, the at least one core bridging device tunnelling the data frame based on information relating to the destination provider edge bridging device.

Abstract: In an example embodiment, a method of route convergence is provided. In this method, a loss of connectivity is detected along a communication route by way of an Ethernet Operations, Administration, and Maintenance (OAM) protocol. Examples of Ethernet OAM protocols include Connectivity Fault Management protocol and Ethernet Local Management Interface protocol. Thereafter, a data link layer identifier associated with the communication route is identified and this data link layer identifier is mapped to a network layer address. Convergence on an alternate communication route can then be based on the mapped network layer address.