Abstract: One or more nodes, in a network, are configured to transmit a message, for computing diverse paths through the network from a first domain to a second domain using a Resource Reservation Protocol-Traffic Engineering (RSVP-TE) signaling protocol; generate at least one data structure that identifies multiple diverse entry points to the second domain; transmit the at least one data structure toward the first domain; complete the at least one data structure to form at least one completed data structure; use a first data structure, of the at least one completed data structure, to compute a primary path from the first domain to the second domain; and use a second data structure, of the at least one completed data structure, to compute a secondary path from the first domain to the second domain.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method may include instantiating a primary intermediate system to intermediate system (ISIS) instance on a network element. The method may further include instantiating a secondary ISIS instance on the network element. The method may also include configuring the primary ISIS instance and the secondary ISIS instance to appear as a single ISIS instance to other network elements remote to the network element.

Abstract: One or more nodes, in a network, are configured to transmit a message, for computing diverse paths through the network from a first domain to a second domain using a Resource Reservation Protocol—Traffic Engineering (RSVP-TE) signaling protocol; generate at least one data structure that identifies multiple diverse entry points to the second domain; transmit the at least one data structure toward the first domain; complete the at least one data structure to form at least one completed data structure; use a first data structure, of the at least one completed data structure, to compute a primary path from the first domain to the second domain; and use a second data structure, of the at least one completed data structure, to compute a secondary path from the first domain to the second domain.

Abstract: Determining availability of an end-to-end physical path associated with reserved resources of a tunnel may include determining, for one or more nodes, a resource status for one or more resources integral to each node. Resource status for the integral resources of each node may be recorded in a message. Each node may communicate its associated message to one or more other nodes. At least one particular node of the one or more nodes may receive the messages communicated from the one or more nodes. The at least one particular node may store resource statuses for each of the one or more nodes. Based on an analysis of resource statuses, the at least one particular node may determine an availability of an end-to-end path of reserved resources of a tunnel including one or more of the nodes based on an analysis of resource statuses.

Abstract: A method for discovering neighboring nodes includes establishing a first optical connection with a first node using a first link. The method also includes detecting a change in the first optical connection. The method further includes initiating a discovery process to detect whether the first node or a second node is using the first link. The method additionally includes, upon detecting a second node using the first link, disabling the first optical connection and establishing a second optical connection with the second node.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method may include instantiating a primary intermediate system to intermediate system (ISIS) instance on a network element. The method may further include instantiating a secondary ISIS instance on the network element. The method may also include configuring the primary ISIS instance and the secondary ISIS instance to appear as a single ISIS instance to other network elements remote to the network element.

Abstract: A method may include creating an L3-L2 database on a first switch, the database having one or more entries, each entry: (a) associating a Level 3 (L3) unique identifier associated with a virtual local area network (VLAN) communicatively coupled to the first switch to a Level 2 (L2) unique identifier associated with the VLAN, and (b) associating the L3 unique identifier with a port of the first switch. The method may also include receiving a network packet at the first switch. The method may additionally include determining if a destination VLAN for the network packet has a corresponding entry in the L3-L2 database. The method may further include switching the network packet to the port in response to a determination that the destination VLAN for the network packet has a corresponding entry in the L3-L2 database, such that the packet is communicated to one of: (a) the destination VLAN, and (b) a second switch intermediate to the first switch and the destination VLAN.

Abstract: An apparatus for computing optical network characteristics may comprise: a plurality of network elements arranged into two or more domains; two or more optical computation engines, each of the two or more optical computation engine associated with a respective one of the two or more domains; and a centralized path computation engine configured to interface with the two or more optical computation engines to calculate one or more characteristics of the optical path. Each of the two or more domains may comprise one or more network elements sharing a common operational characteristic. The plurality of network elements may be in optical communication along an optical path, the optical path including a first network element at an origin of the optical path and a final network element at a terminus of the optical path.

Abstract: A method for rejecting a request to alter a connection includes establishing a first connection with a first node and a second connection with a second node. The second connection passes through the first node and has an associated first end-to-end state. The method also includes transmitting, for relay by the first node to the second node, a first request to alter the second connection with the second node so that the second connection will have an associated second end-to-end state. The method additionally includes receiving a rejection message from the first node indicating that the first request to alter the second connection failed. The method further includes transmitting a second request to alter the second connection with the second node to ensure that the second connection is again in the associated first end-to-end state.

Abstract: Determining availability of an end-to-end physical path associated with reserved resources of a tunnel may include determining, for one or more nodes, a resource status for one or more resources integral to each node. Resource status for the integral resources of each node may be recorded in a message. Each node may communicate its associated message to one or more other nodes. At least one particular node of the one or more nodes may receive the messages communicated from the one or more nodes. The at least one particular node may store resource statuses for each of the one or more nodes. Based on an analysis of resource statuses, the at least one particular node may determine an availability of an end-to-end path of reserved resources of a tunnel including one or more of the nodes based on an analysis of resource statuses.

Abstract: A method for establishing protected connections includes determining a primary path to a first node through a first layer of a multi-layer network. The primary path comprises a plurality of first layer links. At least one link of the plurality of first layer links comprises at least one second layer link at a second layer. The method also includes determining a secondary path to the first node through the first layer. Upon detecting a first link of the plurality of first layer links is protected against link failure by the at least one second layer link the secondary path comprises the first link of the first layer. Additionally, upon detecting a second link of the plurality of first layer links is not protected against link failure by the at least one second layer link, the secondary path comprises a third link of the first layer.

Abstract: A method for providing support for multiple control channels includes establishing an indirect data connection with a first network entity in an optical network. The method also includes establishing a first control channel with the first network entity. The first control channel has at least one unique source IP address. The method additionally includes transmitting a first control message to the first network entity via the first control channel. The first control message comprises a first unique source IP address.

Abstract: A method for establishing protected connections includes determining a primary path to a first node through a first layer of a multi-layer network. The primary path comprises a plurality of first layer links. At least one link of the plurality of first layer links comprises at least one second layer link at a second layer. The method also includes determining a secondary path to the first node through the first layer. Upon detecting a first link of the plurality of first layer links is protected against link failure by the at least one second layer link the secondary path comprises the first link of the first layer. Additionally, upon detecting a second link of the plurality of first layer links is not protected against link failure by the at least one second layer link, the secondary path comprises a third link of the first layer.

Abstract: A method for rejecting a request to alter a connection includes establishing a first connection with a first node and a second connection with a second node. The second connection passes through the first node and has an associated first end-to-end state. The method also includes transmitting, for relay by the first node to the second node, a first request to alter the second connection with the second node so that the second connection will have an associated second end-to-end state. The method additionally includes receiving a rejection message from the first node indicating that the first request to alter the second connection failed. The method further includes transmitting a second request to alter the second connection with the second node to ensure that the second connection is again in the associated first end-to-end state.

Abstract: A method for discovering neighboring nodes includes establishing a first optical connection with a first node using a first link. The method also includes detecting a change in the first optical connection. The method further includes initiating a discovery process to detect whether the first node or a second node is using the first link. The method additionally includes, upon detecting a second node using the first link, disabling the first optical connection and establishing a second optical connection with the second node.

Abstract: A method for providing support for multiple control channels includes establishing an indirect data connection with a first network entity in an optical network. The method also includes establishing a first control channel with the first network entity. The first control channel has at least one unique source IP address. The method additionally includes transmitting a first control message to the first network entity via the first control channel. The first control message comprises a first unique source IP address.