Abstract: An apparatus includes a first edge device configured to receive a data unit destined to a peripheral processing device that is operatively coupled to a network interconnect via a LAG associated with a second edge device and a third edge device. The first edge device is configured to select an edge device set that includes the third edge device and excludes the second edge device, from a group of edge device sets. Each edge device set from the group of edge device sets is directly coupled to the peripheral processing device. The first edge device is configured to send an instance of the data unit to each edge device from the edge device set such that the third edge device sends an instance of the data unit to the peripheral processing device based on a selection method that omits ports on the second edge device as potential selections.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first edge device configured to receive a data unit destined to a peripheral processing device that is operatively coupled to a network interconnect via a LAG associated with a second edge device and a third edge device. The first edge device is configured to select an edge device set that includes the third edge device and excludes the second edge device, from a group of edge device sets. Each edge device set from the group of edge device sets is directly coupled to the peripheral processing device. The first edge device is configured to send an instance of the data unit to each edge device from the edge device set such that the third edge device sends an instance of the data unit to the peripheral processing device based on a selection method that omits ports on the second edge device as potential selections.

Abstract: A network device may receive, from a first control device, a first value for a control plane parameter used to configure a control plane associated with the network device. The network device may receive, from a second control device, a second value for the control plane parameter. The second value may be different from the first value. The network device may determine that the second value is different from the first value. The network device may determine a rule, associated with the control plane parameter, based on determining that the second value is different from the first value. The network device may determine, based on the rule, a third value for the control plane parameter. The network device may transmit, to another network device, a packet that includes the third value for the control plane parameter.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first edge device configured to receive a data unit destined to a peripheral processing device that is operatively coupled to a network interconnect via a LAG associated with a second edge device and a third edge device. The first edge device is configured to select an edge device set that includes the third edge device and excludes the second edge device, from a group of edge device sets. Each edge device set from the group of edge device sets is directly coupled to the peripheral processing device. The first edge device is configured to send an instance of the data unit to each edge device from the edge device set such that the third edge device sends an instance of the data unit to the peripheral processing device based on a selection method that omits ports on the second edge device as potential selections.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first edge device configured to receive a data unit destined to a peripheral processing device that is operatively coupled to a network interconnect via a LAG associated with a second edge device and a third edge device. The first edge device is configured to select an edge device set that includes the third edge device and excludes the second edge device, from a group of edge device sets. Each edge device set from the group of edge device sets is directly coupled to the peripheral processing device. The first edge device is configured to send an instance of the data unit to each edge device from the edge device set such that the third edge device sends an instance of the data unit to the peripheral processing device based on a selection method that omits ports on the second edge device as potential selections.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for prioritizing source Media Access Control (MAC) address miss processing is described. In one embodiment of the invention, a network bridge receives multiple frames (each including a source MAC address) at multiple ports of multiple line cards. If a source MAC address of a received frame is associated with a different port than which it was received on, the network bridge places a source MAC miss message in a high priority MAC move miss queue. If a source MAC address of a received frame is not associated with any of the ports of the network bridge, the network bridge places a source MAC miss message in a low priority unknown MAC miss queue. The network bridge processes those source MAC miss messages in the high priority queue with a higher priority than processing those source MAC miss messages in the low priority queue.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for validating control and data plane association is described. In one embodiment of the invention, a first provider edge (PE) network element negotiates a pseudowire with a second PE network element. The pseudowire is uniquely identifiable between the first and second PE network element with a unique pseudowire identifier. The first PE network element receives OAM (operations, administration, and management) packets each including a pseudowire identifier from the second PE network element over the negotiated pseudowire. If an OAM packet is received with a pseudowire identifier that does not match the negotiated pseudowire, the first PE network element determines a data plane fault is associated with the pseudowire on the second PE network element. However, if the OAM packets include the pseudowire identifier that matches the negotiated pseudowire, the control and data plane association of the second PE network element is validated. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for counting Media Access Control (MAC) address moves at line rate is described. According to one embodiment of the invention, a line card in a network bridge receives a frame at a port having a source MAC address that is associated with a different port of the network bridge. The line card signals a control card of the network bridge that the source MAC address has moved. The control card processes the source MAC address move and increments a MAC address move counter. If the MAC address move counter exceeds a MAC address move count threshold for a given time interval, the control card signals each line card in the network bridge to count each frame they receive on any port having that source MAC address. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.

Abstract: Loop-elimination in a network is provided by establishing a physical topology based domain within the network and restricting protocol data units that are received within the physical topology based domain from being consumed at a network node outside of the physical topology based domain, wherein the protocol data units include loop-elimination information. The loop-elimination technique may also include identifying a logical based domain that exists within the network and then restricting protocol data units that are received within the physical topology based domain and the logical based domain from being consumed outside of the physical topology based domain and the logical based domain.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for prioritizing source Media Access Control (MAC) address miss processing is described. In one embodiment of the invention, a network bridge receives multiple frames (each including a source MAC address) at multiple ports of multiple line cards. If a source MAC address of a received frame is associated with a different port than which it was received on, the network bridge places a source MAC miss message in a high priority MAC move miss queue. If a source MAC address of a received frame is not associated with any of the ports of the network bridge, the network bridge places a source MAC miss message in a low priority unknown MAC miss queue. The network bridge processes those source MAC miss messages in the high priority queue with a higher priority than processing those source MAC miss messages in the low priority queue.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for counting Media Access Control (MAC) address moves at line rate is described. According to one embodiment of the invention, a line card in a network bridge receives a frame at a port having a source MAC address that is associated with a different port of the network bridge. The line card signals a control card of the network bridge that the source MAC address has moved. The control card processes the source MAC address move and increments a MAC address move counter. If the MAC address move counter exceeds a MAC address move count threshold for a given time interval, the control card signals each line card in the network bridge to count each frame they receive on any port having that source MAC address. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for validating control and data plane association is described. In one embodiment of the invention, a first provider edge (PE) network element negotiates a pseudowire with a second PE network element. The pseudowire is uniquely identifiable between the first and second PE network element with a unique pseudowire identifier. The first PE network element receives OAM (operations, administration, and management) packets each including a pseudowire identifier from the second PE network element over the negotiated pseudowire. If an OAM packet is received with a pseudowire identifier that does not match the negotiated pseudowire, the first PE network element determines a data plane fault is associated with the pseudowire on the second PE network element. However, if the OAM packets include the pseudowire identifier that matches the negotiated pseudowire, the control and data plane association of the second PE network element is validated. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.

Abstract: A technique for detecting a loop between network devices such as customer and carrier edge devices involves counting the number of media access control (MAC) address moves that occur at a device and comparing the number of MAC address moves to a pre-established MAC move threshold. The technique includes artificially accelerating the MAC move count related to a MAC address when the MAC address is moving between a set of ports at which the MAC address was previously found. The MAC move count is artificially accelerated because movement of a MAC address between a set of ports at which the MAC address was previously found is a strong indication of loop. The MAC move count is artificially accelerated by weighting the MAC move count once it has been determined that a MAC is moving between a set of ports at which the MAC address was previously found.

Abstract: A technique for detecting a loop between network devices such as customer and carrier edge devices involves counting the number of media access control (MAC) address moves that occur at a device and comparing the number of MAC address moves to a pre-established MAC move threshold. The technique includes artificially accelerating the MAC move count related to a MAC address when the MAC address is moving between a set of ports at which the MAC address was previously found. The MAC move count is artificially accelerated because movement of a MAC address between a set of ports at which the MAC address was previously found is a strong indication of loop. The MAC move count is artificially accelerated by weighting the MAC move count once it has been determined that a MAC is moving between a set of ports at which the MAC address was previously found.

Abstract: Loop-elimination in a network is provided by establishing a physical topology based domain within the network and restricting protocol data units that are received within the physical topology based domain from being consumed at a network node outside of the physical topology based domain, wherein the protocol data units include loop-elimination information. The loop-elimination technique may also include identifying a logical based domain that exists within the network and then restricting protocol data units that are received within the physical topology based domain and the logical based domain from being consumed outside of the physical topology based domain and the logical based domain.