Abstract: A method and apparatus for the efficient dynamic allocation of additional bandwidth in an optical virtual private network (OVPN) are described herein. A software defined network (SDN) controller may receive a request from an end-user of an OVPN for active bandwidth. Then, the SDN controller may determine whether the OVPN requires additional bandwidth to satisfy the request. As of the request, the additional bandwidth may be pre-deployed, but not yet activated for use. In an example, a path computation element (PCE) of the SDN controller may make this determination. Further, the SDN controller, on a condition that additional bandwidth is required, may determine whether additional bandwidth may be activated based on a policy of the end-user. As a result, the SDN controller, on a condition that additional bandwidth may be activated, may transmit an activation message to one or more line cards of the OVPN to activate the additional bandwidth.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the efficient dynamic allocation of additional bandwidth in an optical virtual private network (OVPN) are described herein. A software defined network (SDN) controller may receive a request from an end-user of an OVPN for active bandwidth. Then, the SDN controller may determine whether the OVPN requires additional bandwidth to satisfy the request. As of the request, the additional bandwidth may be pre-deployed, but not yet activated for use. In an example, a path computation element (PCE) of the SDN controller may make this determination. Further, the SDN controller, on a condition that additional bandwidth is required, may determine whether additional bandwidth may be activated based on a policy of the end-user. As a result, the SDN controller, on a condition that additional bandwidth may be activated, may transmit an activation message to one or more line cards of the OVPN to activate the additional bandwidth.

Abstract: A software defined network, in accordance with some examples of the disclosure, may be used to optimizing traffic across a multi-layer inter-exchange for applications like automated private peering by incorporating packet switching along with OTN and/or optical switching into a converged system. Participants in private peering may have ports into the multi-layer inter-exchange, some to the L2 fabric which supports multi-tenant peering and some to the L1 or L0 fabric for higher-performance private peering.

Abstract: An exemplary network controller may be configured to perform ARP mediation through passively learning MAC addresses on client sides and keeping track of IP/MAC/Attachment point associations, hijacking ARP requests received by the core nodes through a packet_in operation or a redirection to other agents, injecting proxy ARP replies that provide target MAC information without the actual target being involved, and possibly programming the network nodes with the static ARP responding rule for a specified duration.

Abstract: A method for detecting the liveliness and synchronizing the control-plane and data-plane on protecting connections in a shared mesh network environment through methods for probing the protecting connection conditions by sending in-band messages; and synchronization of control plane and data plane by using LSP-ping messages on the protecting connections.

Abstract: A software defined network, in accordance with some examples of the disclosure, may be used to optimizing traffic across a multi-layer inter-exchange for applications like automated private peering by incorporating packet switching along with OTN and/or optical switching into a converged system. Participants in private peering may have ports into the multi-layer inter-exchange, some to the L2 fabric which supports multi-tenant peering and some to the L1 or L0 fabric for higher-performance private peering.

Abstract: An exemplary network controller may be configured to perform ARP mediation through passively learning MAC addresses on client sides and keeping track of IP/MAC/Attachment point associations, hijacking ARP requests received by the core nodes through a packet_in operation or a redirection to other agents, injecting proxy ARP replies that provide target MAC information without the actual target being involved, and possibly programming the network nodes with the static ARP responding rule for a specified duration.

Abstract: An exemplary network controller may be configured to receive a data flow request from a first node and, in response to the data flow request, send a flow entry to each of the nodes along a data flow path for the data flow. The flow entries may be sent from the last node in the path first and the last entry may be sent to the first node.

Abstract: An exemplary network controller may be configured to perform path verification using a special packet prepared by the controller. The controller initiates the special packet at the head end of the service. Thereafter, each physical node in the path will be programmed with special flow entries to take this data path verification packet to the controller at each hop. The controller makes a note of this packet and also the path it has taken to reach the node that sent the packet. Then the data path verification packet will be resent by the controller to the next physical node in the computed path.

Abstract: A method for detecting the liveliness and synchronizing the control-plane and data-plane on protecting connections in a shared mesh network environment through methods for probing the protecting connection conditions by sending in-band messages; and synchronization of control plane and data plane by using LSP-ping messages on the protecting connections.

Abstract: Methods and nodes are disclosed. In the methods, circuitry of a first node generates a link state advertising message including bandwidth information indicative of unreserved aggregate bandwidth for multiple priority connections where aggregate bandwidth is greater than available bandwidth. The link state advertising message is transmitted from the first node to a plurality of second nodes within a mesh network. Node bandwidth constraints may be established that contain some designated allocated bandwidth which is not shared with any other Class Types (CT); however, the bandwidth constraints may also allow segregation of other CTs so that within those CTs allocation of designated bandwidth is guaranteed for high priority traffic and low priority traffic is left with the remaining bandwidth in the CT's allocation.

Abstract: A network device includes a multi-chassis system in which each chassis includes a RSVP-TE protocol stack that may provide RSVP-TE services for LSP tunnels associated with each chassis. The multi-chassis system may include an administrative chassis. The administrative chassis may forward RSVP messages to other chassis of the network device. The administrative chassis may encapsulate the RSVP messages with a chassis address. The other chassis may de-encapsulate the RSVP messages and process the RSVP messages according to the RSVP-TE protocol. The administrative chassis may obtain session information associated with other chassis based on RSVP messages received. The administrative chassis may manage adjacency mechanisms and failure and recovery mechanisms. The multi-chassis system including the distributed RSVP-TE protocol stacks may minimize scalability issues and improve performance when high-capacity routing and/or switching services are needed.

Abstract: A method comprising the steps of receiving a signal indicative of a failure of a working connection in a mesh network having a headend node, a tailend node and an intermediate node, and having a protecting connection, and transmitting an activation message via the protecting connection from at least one of the headend node and the tailend node to the intermediate node for activating the protecting connection.

Abstract: A method for detecting the liveliness and synchronizing the control-plane and data-plane on protecting connections in a shared mesh network environment through methods for probing the protecting connection conditions by sending in-band messages; and synchronization of control plane and data plane by using LSP-ping messages on the protecting connections.

Abstract: Methods and nodes are disclosed. In the methods, circuitry of a first node generates a link state advertising message including bandwidth information indicative of unreserved aggregate bandwidth for multiple priority connections where aggregate bandwidth is greater than available bandwidth. The link state advertising message is transmitted from the first node to a plurality of second nodes within a mesh network. Node bandwidth constraints may be established that contain some designated allocated bandwidth which is not shared with any other Class Types (CT); however, the bandwidth constraints may also allow segregation of other CTs so that within those CTs allocation of designated bandwidth is guaranteed for high priority traffic and low priority traffic is left with the remaining bandwidth in the CT's allocation.

Abstract: A method for detecting the liveliness and synchronizing the control-plane and data-plane on protecting connections in a shared mesh network environment through methods for probing the protecting connection conditions by sending in-band messages; and synchronization of control plane and data plane by using LSP-ping messages on the protecting connections.

Abstract: A method comprising the steps of receiving a signal indicative of a failure of a working connection in a mesh network having a headend node, a tailend node and an intermediate node, and having a protecting connection, and transmitting an activation message via the protecting connection from at least one of the headend node and the tailend node to the intermediate node for activating the protecting connection.

Abstract: A network device includes a multi-chassis system in which each chassis includes a RSVP-TE protocol stack that may provide RSVP-TE services for LSP tunnels associated with each chassis. The multi-chassis system may include an administrative chassis. The administrative chassis may forward RSVP messages to other chassis of the network device. The administrative chassis may encapsulate the RSVP messages with a chassis address. The other chassis may de-encapsulate the RSVP messages and process the RSVP messages according to the RSVP-TE protocol. The administrative chassis may obtain session information associated with other chassis based on RSVP messages received. The administrative chassis may manage adjacency mechanisms and failure and recovery mechanisms. The multi-chassis system including the distributed RSVP-TE protocol stacks may minimize scalability issues and improve performance when high-capacity routing and/or switching services are needed.