Abstract: A device is configured to support one or more virtual networking functions at a branch in a network. The device receives from a central control entity a command to deploy a particular virtual networking function, the command including or accompanied by a deployment file that identifies an external port at which the particular virtual networking function is accessed externally at the device. The device maps the external port to an internal port on an internal management network of the device, and stores a portmapping entry for the particular virtual networking function based on the mapping. The device sends to the central control entity a notification containing portmapping information that indicates the internal port to which the external port is mapped.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a device-independent label is associated with multiple network devices such that the packet switching devices in a network will forward a packet based on the device-independent label to one of these multiple network devices. In one embodiment, these device-independent labels include, but are not limited to, domain-identifying labels and forwarding-punt labels. In one embodiment, a domain-identifying label is defined as a label that identifies a plurality of network nodes without identifying a single particular network node, single particular interface, nor single particular link. In one embodiment, a first-domain forwarding-punt label is placed at the top of the label stack to identify to forward the label-switched packet to any one of a plurality of designated forwarding nodes corresponding to the first-domain forwarding-punt label (e.g., for sending to a packet switching device which will have forwarding information for the second domain-identifying label).

Abstract: In one embodiment, operations analysis of packet groups identified based on timestamps is performed. One embodiment includes sending a plurality of sent timeframe groups of a plurality of time-stamped packets from a first packet network node towards a second packet network node in a network and recording first information associated with each of the plurality of said sent timeframe groups of the plurality of time-stamped packets. The second network node receives a plurality of received timeframe groups of a received plurality of time-stamped packets of said sent plurality of time-stamped packets and recording second information associated with each of the plurality of said received timeframe groups of the received plurality of time-stamped packets. Operations analysis based on one or more operations characteristics of said first information and said second information to produce analysis results.

Abstract: A device is configured to support one or more virtual networking functions at a branch in a network. The device receives from a central control entity a command to deploy a particular virtual networking function, the command including or accompanied by a deployment file that identifies an external port at which the particular virtual networking function is accessed externally at the device. The device maps the external port to an internal port on an internal management network of the device, and stores a portmapping entry for the particular virtual networking function based on the mapping. The device sends to the central control entity a notification containing portmapping information that indicates the internal port to which the external port is mapped.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a device-independent label is associated with multiple network devices such that the packet switching devices in a network will forward a packet based on the device-independent label to one of these multiple network devices. In one embodiment, these device-independent labels include, but are not limited to, domain-identifying labels and forwarding-punt labels. In one embodiment, a domain-identifying label is defined as a label that identifies a plurality of network nodes without identifying a single particular network node, single particular interface, nor single particular link. In one embodiment, a first-domain forwarding-punt label is placed at the top of the label stack to identify to forward the label-switched packet to any one of a plurality of designated forwarding nodes corresponding to the first-domain forwarding-punt label (e.g., for sending to a packet switching device which will have forwarding information for the second domain-identifying label.).

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus in a network determines particular metadata to communicate infrastructure information associated with a particular packet to another apparatus in the network. The apparatus sends into the network the particular packet including a metadata channel, comprising said particular metadata, external to the payload of the particular packet. Examples of infrastructure metadata carried in a packet include, but are not limited to, information defining service chaining for processing of the packet, contextual information for processing of the packet, specific handling instructions of the packet, and operations, maintenance, administration (OAM) instrumentation of the packet.

Abstract: In one embodiment, operations analysis of packet groups identified based on timestamps is performed. One embodiment includes sending a plurality of sent timeframe groups of a plurality of time-stamped packets from a first packet network node towards a second packet network node in a network and recording first information associated with each of the plurality of said sent timeframe groups of the plurality of time-stamped packets. The second network node receives a plurality of received timeframe groups of a received plurality of time-stamped packets of said sent plurality of time-stamped packets and recording second information associated with each of the plurality of said received timeframe groups of the received plurality of time-stamped packets. Operations analysis based on one or more operations characteristics of said first information and said second information to produce analysis results.

Abstract: In one embodiment, packet labels are used to identify synchronization groups of packets, such as for, but not limited to, performing processing of packets based on their corresponding synchronization group, as the synchronization label of a packet may define a current characteristic of the packet stream which is taken into account performing processing related to the packet. A plurality of synchronization groups of packets are generated and sent, by a first packet switching device, to a second packet switching device, with each particular packet of the plurality of synchronization groups of packets including a same synchronization label in a label stack of said particular packet that is different than a synchronization label used with another of the plurality of synchronization groups of packets, and with each synchronization group of the plurality of synchronization groups of packets including a plurality of packets.

Abstract: Techniques are provided to automatically configure packet based network services over Dense Wavelength Division Multiplex (DWDM) network communication links. An optical wavelength is detected at an optical interface of a network device configured to send traffic between a packet switched network and an optical network. A message is sent to an optical control plane comprising information configured to request optical configuration information for the optical wavelength. A response to the message is received comprising the optical configuration information and the wavelength is activated at the optical interface using the optical configuration information. A frame is received over the wavelength that is formatted according to an optical protocol. Packet switched network information is extracting from an overhead portion of the frame that is configured to identify network parameters for configuring a packet switched network link and the associated routing.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus in a network determines particular metadata to communicate infrastructure information associated with a particular packet to another apparatus in the network. The apparatus sends into the network the particular packet including a metadata channel, comprising said particular metadata, external to the payload of the particular packet. Examples of infrastructure metadata carried in a packet include, but are not limited to, information defining service chaining for processing of the packet, contextual information for processing of the packet, specific handling instructions of the packet, and operations, maintenance, administration (OAM) instrumentation of the packet.

Abstract: Techniques are provided to automatically configure packet based network services over Dense Wavelength Division Multiplex (DWDM) network communication links. An optical wavelength is detected at an optical interface of a network device configured to send traffic between a packet switched network and an optical network. A message is sent to an optical control plane comprising information configured to request optical configuration information for the optical wavelength. A response to the message is received comprising the optical configuration information and the wavelength is activated at the optical interface using the optical configuration information. A frame is received over the wavelength that is formatted according to an optical protocol. Packet switched network information is extracting from an overhead portion of the frame that is configured to identify network parameters for configuring a packet switched network link and the associated routing.