Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer readable medium for reducing traffic loss when bringing up a switch within a multi chassis switch cluster without using dedicated intra cluster links is presented. A first network device in a cluster discovers at least one path to a second network device in the cluster, wherein the cluster utilizes at least one virtual IST between the first network device and the second network device. The first network device starts an Inter Switch Trunk (IST) synchronization process with the second network device. The first network device installs redirection rules, wherein the redirection rules are used for datapath traffic and are not used for control channel traffic. The first network device determines that the IST synchronization process between the first network device and the second network device has completed, and removes the redirection rules.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer readable media for zero touch attachment of devices, such as Internet of Things (IoT) devices, to an SPB network are described.

Abstract: A method apparatus and computer readable medium for preforming SPB-PIM multicast interactions is presented. A Backbone Edge Bridge (BEB) in a Shortest Path Bridging (SPB) network discovers a multicast stream originating within a Protocol-Independent Multicast (PIM) network. The BEB sends multicast information to a Rendezvous Point (RP) in the PIM network. The BEB advertises a multicast stream learned from the RP into the SPB network. The BEB receives an update that includes a receiver interest in said multicast stream and initiates PIM join procedures for permitting the receiver to receive the multicast stream.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing Protocol-Independent Multicast (PIM) snooping for a Shortest Path Bridging Multicast (SPBM) Network is presented. An ingress Backbone Edge Bridge (BEB) device of a Shortest Path Bridging (SPB) network having at least one egress BEB coupled to at least one PIM network performs the following operations. The egress BEB, snoops join and prune messages for a multicast stream in the SPB network. A multicast tree is built in the SPB network for the multicast stream in accordance with the join and prune messages. The multicast stream is forwarded through the SPB network in accordance with the multicast tree.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automated mirroring is presented. A network device running as a Fabric Attach (FA) server configured to mirror traffic to a Remote Switch Port Analyzer (RSPAN) Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN), issues an FA Type Length Value (TLV) on its uplink to the FA server. The TLV includes a request to associate said RSPAN VLAN with a Service Identifier (I-SID) used to carry mirror traffic in a network. The network device sends the mirrored traffic on the RSPAN VLAN on its uplink to the FA server. The network device signals the I-SID into the network, and detects receive interest in the I-SID. The network device delivers the mirrored traffic to devices that expressed a receive interest in the mirrored traffic.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automated mirroring is presented. In a particular embodiment of a method for automated mirroring, a Network Device running as a Fabric Attach (FA) Server receives an FA Type Length Value (TLV) from an Access Device running as a FA proxy or client. The Access Device is configured to mirror traffic to a Remote Switch Port Analyzer (RSPAN) Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN). The TLV includes a request to associate the RSPAN VLAN with a Service Identifier (I-SID) used to carry mirror traffic in a network. The method includes wherein the FA server receives the mirrored traffic on the RSPAN VLAN. The FA Server signals the I-SID into the network, and detects receive interest in the I-SID. The FA Server delivers the mirrored traffic to devices that expressed a receive interest in the mirrored traffic.

Abstract: Multicast link trace Connectivity Fault Management (CFM) is implemented in an Ethernet network by causing nodes on the network which perform Reverse Path Forwarding Check (RPFC) based on packet Source Address (SA) to not update the packet SA when updating the content of the CFM message. Alternatively multicast CFM is implemented by causing nodes on the network to update the packet SA when the content of the CFM message is updated, but cause a secondary RPFC process to be implemented by a control process in connection with processing the CFM message. The secondary RPFC process is based on a combination of source and content contained in the payload of the CFM message.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product for providing Virtual Routing and Forwarding (VRF) and gateway Media Access Controller (MAC) distribution is presented. At least one subnet associated with a Layer 2 Virtual Switching Network (L2VSN) is provided on a network device. A message is propagated to a distributed Datapath. Network devices install the message as a routable MAC address on the L2VSN for the Layer 3 Virtual Switching Network/Virtual Routing and Forwarding (L3VSN/VRF) associated with the message. Edge devices route packets on the L2VSN addressed to the gateway MAC address.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, apparatus and software for debugging auto-attach entities is presented. A Continuity Fault Management (CFM) request for a service is received over a network at an Auto-Attach (AA) server. The AA server responds with a first response regarding the AA server on the service. The AA server also responds to the CFM request with a second response regarding any AA clients and any AA proxies on the service.

Abstract: A VRRP router group can operate in either a standard VRRP mode or a distributed gateway mode in which all VRRP routers generate VRRP control packets but transmit those packets only to local access network-side hosts. The rate of VRRP control packet generation may be decreased in the distributed gateway mode relative to the standard mode. Moreover, VRRP router CPUs may cease processing of VRRP control packets in the distributed gateway mode.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product for providing Virtual Routing and Forwarding (VRF) and gateway Media Access Controller (MAC) distribution is presented. At least one subnet associated with a Layer 2 Virtual Switching Network (L2VSN) is provided on a network device. A message is propagated to a distributed Datapath. Network devices install the message as a routable MAC address on the L2VSN for the Layer 3 Virtual Switching Network/Virtual Routing and Forwarding (L3VSN/VRF) associated with the message. Edge devices route packets on the L2VSN addressed to the gateway MAC address.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product for providing Virtual Routing and Forwarding (VRF) and gateway Media Access Controller (MAC) distribution is presented. At least one subnet associated with a Layer 2 Virtual Switching Network (L2VSN) is provided on a network device. A message is propagated to a distributed Datapath. Network devices install the message as a routable MAC address on the L2VSN for the Layer 3 Virtual Switching Network/Virtual Routing and Forwarding (L3VSN/VRF) associated with the message. Edge devices route packets on the L2VSN addressed to the gateway MAC address.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product for distribution of routing information used in a transport network is presented. In a transport network having a plurality of edge devices and core devices, a main instance of a protocol is used for shortest path and tree computation. A multicast tree is defined per Virtual Services Network (VSN) to distribute Link State Data Base (LSDB) updates that only apply to members of said VSN. Multicast trees are built using a secondary instance of the control protocol LSDB and wherein each VSN multicast tree represents a separate instance of the secondary instance of the control protocol LSD. LSDB updates are distributed that only apply to members of the VSN using the multicast tree for the VSN.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product for providing the use of an external metric as the primary tie-breaker in ISIS route selections is presented. A set of routes are identified that are to be advertised by the router as external routes within a network. The routes are advertised by the router using a Type Length Variable (TLV), wherein the TLV contains metric information to be used as a first tiebreaker when selecting routes. The network is running an Intermediate System To Intermediate System (ISIS) protocol. The TLV includes a 32-bit or a 64-bit administrative tag sub-TLV, the TLV comprising TLV#135, TLV#235, TLV#236, and TLV#237.

Abstract: A method apparatus and computer readable medium for preforming SPB-PIM multicast interactions is presented. A Backbone Edge Bridge (BEB) in a Shortest Path Bridging (SPB) network discovers a multicast stream originating within a Protocol-Independent Multicast (PIM) network. The BEB sends multicast information to a Rendezvous Point (RP) in the PIM network. The BEB advertises a multicast stream learned from the RP into the SPB network. The BEB receives an update that includes a receiver interest in said multicast stream and initiates PIM join procedures for permitting the receiver to receive the multicast stream.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing Protocol-Independent Multicast (PIM) snooping for a Shortest Path Bridging Multicast (SPBM) Network is presented. An ingress Backbone Edge Bridge (BEB) device of a Shortest Path Bridging (SPB) network having at least one egress BEB coupled to at least one PIM network performs the following operations. The egress BEB, snoops join and prune messages for a multicast stream in the SPB network. A multicast tree is built in the SPB network for the multicast stream in accordance with the join and prune messages. The multicast stream is forwarded through the SPB network in accordance with the multicast tree.

Abstract: A Shortest Path Bridging (SPB) network provides a multicast traceroute using network identifiers such as IP addresses for the source and destination (multicast group). The network identifiers, which are based on layer 3 (IP) designations of the traced multicast group, are mapped to a network identifier of the multicast group (corresponding to a layer 2, or MAC address) and an associated Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) which is used to transport the packets belonging to the multicast flow. Therefore, an operator issuing the traceroute command need not be familiar with the layer 2 concepts of the network, but rather need only supply the layer 3 (IP address) designations of the concerned entities.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product for using Backbone Virtual Local Area Network (BVLAN) as Virtual Routing and Forwarding (VRF) Identifier and shared Backbone Media Access Control (BMAC) tables to implement a Shortest Path Bridging (SPB) Layer 3 (L3) Virtual Services Network (VSN) is presented. For routed traffic, a Layer 3 (L3) Virtual Services Network (VSN) is associated with a unique Virtual Local Area Network Identifier (VLAN_ID) value in a first Shortest Path Bridging (SPB) network for routed traffic. The routed traffic comprises traffic sent over an SPB network interface, traffic received from an SPB interface, or traffic forwarded from a first SPB Network interface to a second SPB Network interface.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product for performing optimized distributed routing for stretched data center models through updating route advertisements based on changes to Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) Tables is presented. Port members of an Internet Protocol I (IP) interface or Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) are distinguished into Access Interfaces which only lead to hosts on said subnet and Trunk Interfaces which lead to other redundant routers on said subnet. In the subnet of a network a network route for the subnet is always advertised. A separate host route corresponding to an Internet Protocol (IP) address of each Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) table record that points to an Access Interface is advertised and route advertisements are changed for a host in said subnet for tracked access interfaces.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer readable medium for reducing traffic loss when bringing up a switch within a multi chassis switch cluster without using dedicated intra cluster links is presented. A first network device in a cluster discovers at least one path to a second network device in the cluster, wherein the cluster utilizes at least one virtual IST between the first network device and the second network device. The first network device starts an Inter Switch Trunk (IST) synchronization process with the second network device. The first network device installs redirection rules, wherein the redirection rules are used for datapath traffic and are not used for control channel traffic. The first network device determines that the IST synchronization process between the first network device and the second network device has completed, and removes the redirection rules.