Abstract: A network element and method for programming a network element that includes detecting an update to a first route in a routing information base (RIB) is disclosed. The method includes locating a first route network prefix associated with the first route within a network prefix trie (NPT); determining that, prior to the update, a first parent network prefix and the first route network prefix were reachable using a pair of different next hops connected to the network element; and determining that, after the update, the first parent network prefix and the first route network prefix are reachable using a first common next hop connected to the network element. The method also includes removing an existing forwarding information base (FIB) entry in the FIB associated with the first route network prefix.

Abstract: A method and system for multicast flow restoration following network failure detection. Specifically, in addressing the aftermath following a network failure, one or more embodiments disclosed herein propose a solution through which failure-impacted network multicast(s) may be identified and, subsequently, restored with or without third-party intervention. To that end, one or more embodiments disclosed herein employ(s) a centralized network controller configured to obtain aggregated network state, including network topology information, through numerous logical agents interspersed across a network. Thereafter, the aggregated network state may be leveraged to ascertain and remedy any network multicast disruptions.

Abstract: A method and system for multicast flow restoration following network failure detection. Specifically, in addressing the aftermath following a network failure, one or more embodiments disclosed herein propose a solution through which failure-impacted network multicast(s) may be identified and, subsequently, restored with or without third-party intervention. To that end, one or more embodiments disclosed herein employ(s) a centralized network controller configured to obtain aggregated network state, including network topology information, through numerous logical agents interspersed across a network. Thereafter, the aggregated network state may be leveraged to ascertain and remedy any network multicast disruptions.

Abstract: A method and system for deterministic network bandwidth aware multicast flow provisioning. In addressing network bandwidth oversubscription, embodiments disclosed herein propose a solution through which an intelligent and deterministic methodology may be implemented for provisioning network multicast traffic flows in order to minimize, if not eliminate, network bandwidth oversubscription. To that end, embodiments disclosed herein employ a centralized network controller configured to obtain a range of aggregated network state pertinent to deterministic, network bandwidth aware multicast traffic flow programming. Said aggregated network state may be collected through a number of logical agents dispersed throughout a network, and may include network device connectivity, network path or link bandwidth capacity, and network multicast status information.

Abstract: A method and system for centralized network multicast state publication. Specifically, in overcoming the limitation(s) of existing monitoring and/or reporting approaches to ascertaining network multicast state, embodiments disclosed herein deliver a solution for centralized network multicast state publication. To that end, embodiments disclosed herein employ a centralized network controller configured to obtain aggregated network state, including network multicast state, through embedded logical agents interspersed across a network (e.g., on each network device). Thereafter, the network multicast state may be published through one or many notification channel(s) to any number of subscribing consumers interested in the network multicast state. Furthermore, the notification channel(s) may be implemented using an open-source, distributed, in-memory database that also features a message queuing (or messaging) system.

Abstract: A network element and method for programming a network element that includes detecting an update to a first route in a routing information base (RIB) is disclosed. The method includes locating a first route network prefix associated with the first route within a network prefix trie (NPT); determining that, prior to the update, a first parent network prefix and the first route network prefix were reachable using a pair of different next hops connected to the network element; and determining that, after the update, the first parent network prefix and the first route network prefix are reachable using a first common next hop connected to the network element. The method also includes removing an existing forwarding information base (FIB) entry in the FIB associated with the first route network prefix.

Abstract: Techniques for operating a networking switch in two broadcast networks are provided. In some embodiments, the switch may instantiate a first controller client and a second controller client in a control plane of the switch; register the first controller client with a first broadcast controller associated with a first broadcast network; and register the second controller client with a second broadcast controller associated with a second broadcast network. The switch may further receive a first multicast route through the first controller client; receive a second multicast route through the second controller client; and program at least one of the first multicast route and the second multicast route into a multicast routing information base.

Abstract: A network element and method for programming a network element that includes detecting an update to a first route in a routing information base (RIB) is disclosed. The method includes locating a first route network prefix associated with the first route within a network prefix trie (NPT); determining that, prior to the update, a first parent network prefix and the first route network prefix were reachable using a pair of different next hops connected to the network element; and determining that, after the update, the first parent network prefix and the first route network prefix are reachable using a first common next hop connected to the network element. The method also includes removing an existing forwarding information base (FIB) entry in the FIB associated with the first route network prefix.

Abstract: Techniques for operating a networking switch in two broadcast networks are provided. In some embodiments, the switch may instantiate a first controller client and a second controller client in a control plane of the switch; register the first controller client with a first broadcast controller associated with a first broadcast network; and register the second controller client with a second broadcast controller associated with a second broadcast network. The switch may further receive a first multicast route through the first controller client; receive a second multicast route through the second controller client; and program at least one of the first multicast route and the second multicast route into a multicast routing information base.

Abstract: In general, the invention relates to a method for managing a real network system. The method includes configuring, using Network Device State Information (NDSI) for at least a portion of the real network system, simulated network devices for a simulated network system. The method further includes obtaining simulation conditions for the simulated network system, simulating, using the simulation conditions, operation of the simulated network system to obtain a simulation result, and initiating an update of at least a portion of the real network system corresponding to the simulated network system.

Abstract: A method for managing a network controller cluster includes obtaining, by the network controller in a network controller cluster, network device state information (NDSI) from each network device of a plurality of network devices managed by the network controller cluster, storing the NDSI in a configuration file, receiving a notification that a second network controller in the network controller cluster has failed, wherein the second network controller has a role of primary network controller in the network controller cluster, making a first determination that a role of the network controller has changed to primary network controller in the network controller cluster, based on the first determination, loading the NDSI from the configuration file into a network controller state database on the network controller, and initiating operation of the network controller using the network controller state database.

Abstract: In general, the invention relates to a method for programming a network element. The method includes detecting an addition of a first route in a routing information base (RIB) on the network element, adding, in response to detecting the addition, a first route network prefix associated with the first route to a network prefix trie (NPT), identifying, based on the adding, a first parent network prefix for the first route network prefix using the NPT, making a first determination that the first route network prefix and the first parent network prefix are reachable via a first common next hop connected to the network element, and waiving, based on the first determination, a creation of a forwarding information base (FIB) entry associated with the first route network prefix in a FIB on the network element.

Abstract: In general, the invention relates to a method for programming a network element. The method includes detecting an addition of a first route in a routing information base (RIB) on the network element, adding, in response to detecting the addition, a first route network prefix associated with the first route to a network prefix trie (NPT), identifying, based on the adding, a first parent network prefix for the first route network prefix using the NPT, making a first determination that the first route network prefix and the first parent network prefix are reachable via a first common next hop connected to the network element, and waiving, based on the first determination, a creation of a forwarding information base (FIB) entry associated with the first route network prefix in a FIB on the network element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of a device that simulates a plurality of network elements is described. In an exemplary embodiment, the device receives network topology information for the plurality of simulated network elements. The device further instantiates a container for each of the plurality of simulated network elements. The device additionally configures a set of processes for each of the plurality of containers, where each of the set of processes simulates at least one of the plurality of simulated network elements. The plurality of set of processes further implements a network topology represented by the network topology information. The device performs a test of the network topology and saves the results of the test.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of a network element that installs a device driver used to manage hardware of the network element is described. In an exemplary embodiment, the network element detects, with a functionality of a network element operating system, the hardware of a data plane of the network element, where at least one component of the network element operating system is executing in a first container as a first set of processes. The network element further determines a device driver for the hardware and installs the device driver in a kernel of the host operating system. The network element additionally manages the data, with the network element operating system, using the device driver.

Abstract: In general, the invention relates to a method for managing a real network system. The method includes configuring, using Network Device State Information (NDSI) for at least a portion of the real network system, simulated network devices for a simulated network system. The method further includes obtaining simulation conditions for the simulated network system, simulating, using the simulation conditions, operation of the simulated network system to obtain a simulation result, and initiating an update of at least a portion of the real network system corresponding to the simulated network system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of a network element that hitlessly upgrades a network element operating system of a network element is described. In an exemplary embodiment, the network element hitlessly upgrades the network element operating system by instantiating a second container and starts a second set of processes using a second image of the network element operating system in the second container. In addition, the network element executes a first image of the network element operating system as a first set of processes in a first container. The network element additionally synchronizes state data between the first set of processes and the second set of processes. Furthermore, the network element sets the second set of processes as managing a plurality of hardware tables, and stops the first set of processes within the first container.

Abstract: In general, embodiments of the invention relate to a method and system for enabling a peer state synchronization mechanism for dynamic network address translation (DNAT). More specifically, at least two network elements may be permitted to mount each other's DNAT tables, thereby providing redundancy for the implementation of DNATs in case of the failover of one of the network elements. The failed network element may then re-initialize while the functional network element continues to process packets, including packets that have been redirected to the functional network element post-failure of the failed network element. Upon completing re-initialization, the once failed network element recovers its DNAT table from the functional network element and proceeds to process packets normally.

Abstract: In general, the invention relates to a method for programming a network element. The method includes detecting an addition of a first route in a routing information base (RIB) on the network element, adding, in response to detecting the addition, a first route network prefix associated with the first route to a network prefix trie (NPT), identifying, based on the adding, a first parent network prefix for the first route network prefix using the NPT, making a first determination that the first route network prefix and the first parent network prefix are reachable via a first common next hop connected to the network element, and waiving, based on the first determination, a creation of a forwarding information base (FIB) entry associated with the first route network prefix in a FIB on the network element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of a device that simulates a plurality of network elements is described. In an exemplary embodiment, the device receives network topology information for the plurality of simulated network elements. The device further instantiates a container for each of the plurality of simulated network elements. The device additionally configures a set of processes for each of the plurality of containers, where each of the set of processes simulates at least one of the plurality of simulated network elements. The plurality of set of processes further implements a network topology represented by the network topology information. The device performs a test of the network topology and saves the results of the test.