Abstract: In a Shortest Path Bridge (SPB) network comprising a plurality of backbone edge bridges (BEBs), a gateway controller of the SPB network, establishes a link using Multicast Source Discovery Protocol (MSDP) with an external network domain; discovers via the link a source of a multicast stream originating outside of the SPB network; and determines a subset of the plurality of BEBs that are able to receive the multicast stream from the source. Once that occurs, the gateway controller selects a one of the subset of the plurality of BEBs to be a sole gateway BEB for the multicast stream; and then transmits to each of the subset of the plurality of BEBs an indication of the sole gateway BEB selected for the multicast stream.

Abstract: A method for implementing auto attach for a shortest path bridging (SPB) network comprises determining, on an access point, that an auto attach device communicating in a SPB network is enabled for auto attach, and an advertisement is transmitted to a mobile station. The access point acts a proxy between the mobile station and the auto-attach device by communicably coupling the auto attach device and the mobile station via the access point. A virtual local area network (VLAN) identification and service instance identifier (I-SID) is received from the mobile station, when is then transmitted to the auto-attach device. A VLAN (independent of any static VLAN associated with the WLAN) is created off of the VLAN identification and an indication that the I-SID and the VLAN have been accepted. Data communications are then provided between the mobile station and the auto attach device via the VLAN and the access point.

Abstract: A method for implementing auto attach for a shortest path bridging (SPB) network comprises determining, on an access point, that an auto attach device communicating in a SPB network is enabled for auto attach, and an advertisement is transmitted to a mobile station. The access point acts a proxy between the mobile station and the auto-attach device by communicably coupling the auto attach device and the mobile station via the access point. A virtual local area network (VLAN) identification and service instance identifier (I-SID) is received from the mobile station, when is then transmitted to the auto-attach device. A VLAN (independent of any static VLAN associated with the WLAN) is created off of the VLAN identification and an indication that the I-SID and the VLAN have been accepted. Data communications are then provided between the mobile station and the auto attach device via the VLAN and the access point.

Abstract: In a Shortest Path Bridge (SPB) network comprising a plurality of backbone edge bridges (BEBs), a gateway controller of the SPB network, establishes a link using Multicast Source Discovery Protocol (MSDP) with an external network domain; discovers via the link a source of a multicast stream originating outside of the SPB network; and determines a subset of the plurality of BEBs that are able to receive the multicast stream from the source. Once that occurs, the gateway controller selects a one of the subset of the plurality of BEBs to be a sole gateway BEB for the multicast stream; and then transmits to each of the subset of the plurality of BEBs an indication of the sole gateway BEB selected for the multicast stream.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product for prevention of duplication and looping of multicast traffic within a multi-homed cluster of backbone edge bridges is presented. Multicast traffic is received on a first Access device (AD). The multicast traffic is forwarded from the first AD to a first Backbone edge Bridge (BEB). Any available Backbone Virtual Local Area Network (BVLAN) is chosen to forward the multicast traffic into a transport network by the first BEB. The multicast traffic is received at a second BEB from said first BEB. A determination is made whether a nickname in a packet of the multicast traffic is a nickname of the first BEB and when the nickname in the packet matches a nickname of the first BEB then abstaining from making copies of said packet for said first AD and said second AD.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product for prevention of duplication and looping of multicast traffic within a multi-homed cluster of backbone edge bridges is presented. Multicast traffic is received on a first Access device (AD). The multicast traffic is forwarded from the first AD to a first Backbone edge Bridge (BEB). Any available Backbone Virtual Local Area Network (BVLAN) is chosen to forward the multicast traffic into a transport network by the first BEB. The multicast traffic is received at a second BEB from said first BEB. A determination is made whether a nickname in a packet of the multicast traffic is a nickname of the first BEB and when the nickname in the packet matches a nickname of the first BEB then abstaining from making copies of said packet for said first AD and said second AD.