Abstract: In one embodiment, a loss of communication is detected between a first edge device of a computer network and a neighboring routing domain. A data packet is received at the first edge device, where the received data packet contains a destination address that is reachable via the neighboring routing domain. A determination is made whether a service label is located in a Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) label stack included in the received data packet. A service label in the MPLS label stack indicates that the received data packet was previously rerouted in accordance with fast reroute (FRR) operations. In response to a determination that the received data packet does not include a service label in the MPLS label stack, the received data packet is rerouted to a second edge device of the computer network for forwarding to the neighboring routing domain.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing reachability in a routing domain of a data communications network having as components nodes and links therebetween for a routing domain external destination address is provided. The apparatus is arranged to advertise destination address reachability internally to nodes in the routing domain and associate a reachability category with the internal advertisement of the destination address reachability.

Abstract: In one embodiment, one or more path computation requests from path computation clients (PCCs) in a first network domain are received at a first border router (BR) arranged at the border of the first network domain and a second network domain. The first BR learns of a path computation element (PCE) in the second network domain. The PCE in the second network domain is informed of path computation information for the first network domain. One or more tunnels are established between the first BR and the PCE in the second network domain. One or more path computation requests from PCCs in the first network domain are passed from the first BR, through the one or more tunnels, to the PCE in the second network domain, to be serviced by the PCE in the second network domain using the path computation information for the first network domain.

Abstract: A method of constructing a backup path in an autonomous system (AS) for failure of an inter-AS link is described. The method comprises identifying an alternate inter-AS path and constructing a tunnel to an end point on the alternate path.

Abstract: A method of managing forwarding of data in a first autonomous system (AS) is described. The first AS includes a plurality of border routers having inter-domain links to one or more remote AS's and an associated exterior communications protocol. The border routers use an interior communications protocol with other border routers in the first AS using primary tunnels. The method comprises the steps, performed at a first border router having a primary route via an inter-domain link to a remote AS, of constructing an alternate route to the remote AS via second border router in the first AS, instigating a backup tunnel to the second border router upon failure of the primary route and sending a failure message to the other border routers.

Abstract: A technique calculates a shortest path for a traffic engineering (TE) label switched path (LSP) from a head-end node in a local domain to a tail-end node of a remote domain in a computer network. The novel path calculation technique determines a set of different remote domains through which the TE-LSP may traverse to reach the tail-end node (e.g., along “domain routes”). Once the set of possible routes is determined, the head-end node sends a path computation request to one or more path computation elements (PCEs) of its local domain requesting a computed path for each domain route. Upon receiving path responses for each possible domain route, the head-end node selects the optimal (shortest) path, and establishes the TE-LSP accordingly.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a trigger to add a leaf node to a multicast group of a computer network is detected, and the leaf node may determine a root node of the multicast group to request a path between a tunnel tree and the leaf node of the multicast group. In response to the multicast group having an existing tree, a reply is received from the root node with a computed path to add the leaf node to the tree at a selected node of the tree. The leaf node may then be added to the multicast group tunnel tree over the computed path at the selected node.

Abstract: A technique efficiently avoids transient routing disturbances in link state routing protocols with fragmented link state packets (LSPs) in a computer network. According to the novel technique, a link state router (LSR) specifies which of two or more links are to be advertised in each of two or more corresponding LSP fragments. The LSR advertises the states of the specified links in the corresponding LSP fragments to one or more other LSRs. In other words, each link of the LSR is assigned to a particular LSP fragment, and the state of the link is always to be advertised in that particular LSP fragment (i.e., no fragment wrapping). Upon receiving the LSP fragments, the other LSRs may update the correct link states based on the individual LSP fragments, i.e., without transient routing disturbances caused by fragment wrapping.

Abstract: In one embodiment, one or more path computation requests from path computation clients (PCCs) in a first network domain are received at a first border router (BR) arranged at the border of the first network domain and a second network domain. The first BR learns of a path communication element (PCE) in the second network domain. The PCE in the second network domain is informed of path computation information for the first network domain. One or more tunnels are established between the first BR and the PCE in the second network domain. One or more path computation requests from PCCs in the first network domain are passed from the first BR, through the one or more tunnels, to the PCE in the second network domain, to be serviced by the PCE in the second network domain using the path computation information for the first network domain.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a loss of communication is detected between a first edge device of a computer network and a neighboring routing domain. A data packet is received at the first edge device, where the received data packet contains a destination address that is reachable via the neighboring routing domain. A determination is made whether a service label is located in a Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) label stack included in the received data packet. A service label in the MPLS label stack indicates that the received data packet was previously rerouted in accordance with fast reroute (FRR) operations. In response to a determination that the received data packet does not include a service label in the MPLS label stack, the received data packet is rerouted to a second edge device of the computer network for forwarding to the neighboring routing domain.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus and method are described for constructing a repair path in the event of non-availability of a routing domain component of a routing domain comprising, as components, links and nodes. The apparatus is arranged to receive respective network repair addresses from each of the far-side and near-side advertising node for use in the event of non-availability of a routing domain component between the advertising node. The apparatus is further arranged to advertise the near-side advertising node network repair address to one or more far-side nodes via a path external to the routing domain.

Abstract: A technique triggers optimization of a traffic engineering (TE) label switched path (LSP) that spans multiple domains of a computer network from a head-end node of a local domain to a tail-end node of a remote domain. The technique is based on the detection of an event in the remote domain (“event domain”) that could create a more optimal TE-LSP, such as, e.g., restoration of a network element or increased available bandwidth. Specifically, a path computation element (PCE) in the event domain learns of the event and notifies other PCEs of the event through an event notification. These PCEs then flood an event notification to label switched routers (LSRs) in their respective domain. Upon receiving the notification, if an LSR has one or more TE-LSPs (or pending TE-LSPs), it responds to the PCE with an optimization request for the TE-LSPs. The PCE determines whether a particular TE-LSP may benefit from optimization based on the event domain (i.e.

Abstract: A technique treats a protected forwarding adjacency (FA) as a dynamic entity in that it allows a backup tunnel associated with the FA to carry traffic for the FA, when it's primary tunnel has failed, up to a predetermined amount of time. If after the predetermined amount of time has elapsed and the FA has not recovered (e.g., the primary tunnel has not been reestablished), a network topology change is automatically triggered causing the network to converge on a new network topology. By triggering the network topology change, a path that is more optimal than the path associated with the backup tunnel may be subsequently determined to carry the traffic.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a first path computation element (PCE) operates between first and second network domains, and is adapted to service requests from path computation clients (PCCs) in at least the first domain. In response to a backup event (e.g., failure of a second PCE), a backup PCE in the second domain may be informed of path computation information for the first domain used by the first PCE, and tunnels may be bi-directionally established between the first PCE and the backup PCE. Once the tunnels are established, the backup PCE may be advertised into the first domain, and the backup PCE may operate to load balance service requests for the first domain through the bi-directionally established tunnels.

Abstract: A local fast reroute (FRR) technique is implemented at the edge of a computer network. In accordance with the technique, if an edge device detects a node or link failure that prevents it from communicating with a neighboring routing domain, the edge device reroutes at least some data packets addressed to that domain to a backup edge device which, in turn, forwards the packets to the neighboring domain. The rerouted packets are designated as being “protected” (i.e., rerouted) data packets before they are forwarded to the backup edge device. The backup edge device identifies protected data packets as those which contain a predetermined “service” label in their MPLS label stacks. In other words, the service label is used as an identifier for packets that have been FRR rerouted. Upon receiving a data packet containing a service label, the backup edge device is not permitted to reroute the packet a second time, e.g.

Abstract: A technique selects a traffic engineering (TE) label switched path (LSP) from among a plurality of TE-LSPs, each of which spans multiple domains of a computer network from a head-end node of a local domain to a tail-end node of a remote domain, in order to reach one or more address prefixes within the remote domain. The inter-domain TE-LSP selection technique comprises a selection algorithm executed by the head-end node and based on predetermined TE-LSP attributes (e.g., bandwidth, cost, etc.) and/or address prefix reachability attributes (e.g., cost from a tail-end node to the prefix) to select an appropriate inter-domain TE-LSP for the reachable address prefix. The selection algorithm is embodied in one of two modes: (i) a hierarchical selection mode, or (ii) a weighted selection mode.

Abstract: A method and system for protecting valuable resources within an autonomous system network. Address prefixes within the system are designated as valuable and a flag bit is associated with the address within routing tables of routers of the network. Interfaces to border routers are identified and when packets are received at those interfaces, the packets are flagged with a flag or tag bit. The destination address of the received packet is compared to the flag bit associated with the valuable resource prefix, and if the packet is directed to that resource the packet is dropped and/or logged, but the packet is not forwarded to that resource. In specific cases an interface from an external source may be configured to not create the flag or tag bit, wherein that packet will be delivered to the destination prefix of the packet.

Abstract: A fast reroute (FRR) technique is implemented at the edge of a network. In accordance with the technique, if an edge device detects a node or link failure that prevents it from communicating with a neighboring routing domain, the edge device reroutes at least some data packets addressed to that domain to a backup edge device which, in turn, forwards the packets to the neighboring domain. The rerouted packets are designated as being “protected” (i.e., rerouted) data packets before they are forwarded to the backup edge device. To differentiate which data packets are protected and which are not, the backup edge device employs different sets of VPN label values for protected and non-protected network traffic. That is, the backup edge device may allocate two different VPN label values for at least some destination address prefixes that are reachable through the neighboring domain: a first VPN label value for FRR protected traffic and a second VPN label value for non-protected traffic.

Abstract: A technique dynamically triggers an exchange of reachability information between a tail-end (remote) domain target node (e.g., a tail-end node) of a traffic engineering (TE) label switched path (LSP) and a local domain head-end node of the TE-LSP in a computer network. The inter-domain information retrieval technique is illustratively based on triggering a Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) session whereby at least a portion of the reachability, i.e., routing, information of the tail-end node is transmitted to the head-end node of the TE-LSP in accordance with BGP. Specifically, once a TE-LSP is established between the head-end node and the tail-end node, the head-end node triggers the tail-end node, e.g., through extensions to a request/response signaling exchange, to establish the BGP session. Establishment of the BGP session enables transmission of the routing information from the tail-end node to the head-end node. The head-end node uses the routing information to calculate routes, i.e.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an edge device in a first routing domain is configured to communicate with a second routing domain via a data link. The edge device receives a data packet containing a destination address that is reachable via the second routing domain and an indication that the data packet is a protected packet that was previously rerouted from another edge device in the first routing domain via a Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) Fast Reroute (FRR) backup path. The edge device determines if communication with the second routing domain is still available via the data link, and if so, removes the indication that the data packet is a protected packet and forwards the data packet to the second routing domain, and, if not, drops the data packet to prevent the data packet from being rerouted a second time in the first routing domain on another MPLS FRR backup path.