Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide redundant connectivity between an Ethernet Automatic Protection Switching (EAPS) access network and a Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS) network. A first VPLS node is provided to function as an EAPS controller node. A second VPLS node is provided to function as an EAPS partner node. The first and second VPLS nodes are linked by a pseudowire and an EAPS shared-link. Additional EAPS nodes are also provided. The additional EAPS nodes are linked to each other and one of the additional EAPS nodes is designated as a master node. Links are also established between the VPLS nodes and the EAPS nodes such that one or more EAPS rings are formed. Each EAPS ring includes the shared-link between the first and second VPLS nodes. The EAPS rings are monitored to detect link failures.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide redundant connectivity between an Ethernet Automatic Protection Switching (EAPS) access network and a Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS) network. A first VPLS node is provided to function as an EAPS controller node. A second VPLS node is provided to function as an EAPS partner node. The first and second VPLS nodes are linked by a pseudowire and an EAPS shared-link. Additional EAPS nodes are also provided. The additional EAPS nodes are linked to each other and one of the additional EAPS nodes is designated as a master node. Links are also established between the VPLS nodes and the EAPS nodes such that one or more EAPS rings are formed. Each EAPS ring includes the shared-link between the first and second VPLS nodes. The EAPS rings are monitored to detect link failures.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide redundant connectivity between an Ethernet Automatic Protection Switching (EAPS) access network and a Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS) network. A first VPLS node is provided to function as an EAPS controller node. A second VPLS node is provided to function as an EAPS partner node. The first and second VPLS nodes are linked by a pseudowire and an EAPS shared-link. Additional EAPS nodes are also provided. The additional EAPS nodes are linked to each other and one of the additional EAPS nodes is designated as a master node. Links are also established between the VPLS nodes and the EAPS nodes such that one or more EAPS rings are formed. Each EAPS ring includes the shared-link between the first and second VPLS nodes. The EAPS rings are monitored to detect link failures.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide redundant connectivity between an Ethernet Automatic Protection Switching (EAPS) access network and a Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS) network. A first VPLS node is provided to function as an EAPS controller node. A second VPLS node is provided to function as an EAPS partner node. The first and second VPLS nodes are linked by a pseudowire and an EAPS shared-link. Additional EAPS nodes are also provided. The additional EAPS nodes are linked to each other and one of the additional EAPS nodes is designated as a master node. Links are also established between the VPLS nodes and the EAPS nodes such that one or more EAPS rings are formed. Each EAPS ring includes the shared-link between the first and second VPLS nodes. The EAPS rings are monitored to detect link failures.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide redundant connectivity between an Ethernet Automatic Protection Switching (EAPS) access network and a Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS) network. A first VPLS node is provided to function as an EAPS controller node. A second VPLS node is provided to function as an EAPS partner node. The first and second VPLS nodes are linked by a pseudowire and an EAPS shared-link. Additional EAPS nodes are also provided. The additional EAPS nodes are linked to each other and one of the additional EAPS nodes is designated as a master node. Links are also established between the VPLS nodes and the EAPS nodes such that one or more EAPS rings are formed. Each EAPS ring includes the shared-link between the first and second VPLS nodes. The EAPS rings are monitored to detect link failures.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining the integrity of a domain defined in a network. The method includes processes and systems to facilitate the discovery a conceptual ring topology of the domain in the network, and the determination of the integrity of the domain based on the conceptual ring topology that was discovered.

Abstract: Preventing a loop in a virtual network that spans at least two rings when there is a failure in a segment shared between the rings. A node connected to the shared segment and the rings detects a failure in the segment to transmit data traffic; and prevents transmitting data traffic between the node and all the rings except for one ring, in response to detecting the failure.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide redundant connectivity between an Ethernet Automatic Protection Switching (EAPS) access network and a Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS) network. A first VPLS node is provided to function as an EAPS controller node. A second VPLS node is provided to function as an EAPS partner node. The first and second VPLS nodes are linked by a pseudowire and an EAPS shared-link. Additional EAPS nodes are also provided. The additional EAPS nodes are linked to each other and one of the additional EAPS nodes is designated as a master node. Links are also established between the VPLS nodes and the EAPS nodes such that one or more EAPS rings are formed. Each EAPS ring includes the shared-link between the first and second VPLS nodes. The EAPS rings are monitored to detect link failures.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide redundant connectivity between an Ethernet Automatic Protection Switching (EAPS) access network and a Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS) network. A first VPLS node is provided to function as an EAPS controller node. A second VPLS node is provided to function as an EAPS partner node. The first and second VPLS nodes are linked by a pseudowire and an EAPS shared-link. Additional EAPS nodes are also provided. The additional EAPS nodes are linked to each other and one of the additional EAPS nodes is designated as a master node. Links are also established between the VPLS nodes and the EAPS nodes such that one or more EAPS rings are formed. Each EAPS ring includes the shared-link between the first and second VPLS nodes. The EAPS rings are monitored to detect link failures.

Abstract: A multicast data packet sent from a source node is received by a transit node. The multicast data packet includes a source address and a multicast group address. A hardware cache miss is detected at the transit node for the multicast data packet. The multicast data packet is hardware-flooded onto ports of the network. The flooding consists of forwarding a copy of the multicast data packet to neighbor nodes of the transit node based on virtual local area network (VLAN) membership. A cache-miss copy of the multicast data packet is sent to an out-of-line processing unit where it is processed in software. The processing includes establishing, via a hardware abstraction layer, a hardware cache entry for the multicast data packet. The cache-miss copy is not forwarded onto the network.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining the integrity of a domain defined in a network. The method includes processes and systems to facilitate the discovery a conceptual ring topology of the domain in the network, and the determination of the integrity of the domain based on the conceptual ring topology that was discovered.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining the integrity of a domain defined in a network. The method includes processes and systems to facilitate the discovery a conceptual ring topology of the domain in the network, and the determination of the integrity of the domain based on the conceptual ring topology that was discovered.

Abstract: A multicast data packet sent from a source node is received by a transit node. The multicast data packet includes a source address and a multicast group address. A hardware cache miss is detected at the transit node for the multicast data packet. The multicast data packet is hardware-flooded onto ports of the network. The flooding consists of forwarding a copy of the multicast data packet to neighbor nodes of the transit node based on virtual local area network (VLAN) membership. A cache-miss copy of the multicast data packet is sent to an out-of-line processing unit where it is processed in software. The processing includes establishing, via a hardware abstraction layer, a hardware cache entry for the multicast data packet. The cache-miss copy is not forwarded onto the network.

Abstract: Preventing a loop in a virtual network that spans at least two rings when there is a failure in two or more segments shared between the rings. A node connected to one of the shared segments is designated as the root blocker node and prevents transmitting data traffic between the node and all the ports connected thereto that have not failed except for one, in response to detecting the failure. For one embodiment the root blocker node periodically transmits a path detect signal to validate its blocking status.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide redundant connectivity between an Ethernet Automatic Protection Switching (EAPS) access network and a Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS) network. A first VPLS node is provided to function as an EAPS controller node. A second VPLS node is provided to function as an EAPS partner node. The first and second VPLS nodes are linked by a pseudowire and an EAPS shared-link. Additional EAPS nodes are also provided. The additional EAPS nodes are linked to each other and one of the additional EAPS nodes is designated as a master node. Links are also established between the VPLS nodes and the EAPS nodes such that one or more EAPS rings are formed. Each EAPS ring includes the shared-link between the first and second VPLS nodes. The EAPS rings are monitored to detect link failures.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining the integrity of a domain defined in a network. The method includes processes and systems to facilitate the discovery a conceptual ring topology of the domain in the network, and the determination of the integrity of the domain based on the conceptual ring topology that was discovered.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for automatic protection switching in a ring network by creating a protection domain having a control vlan and protected data vlans and designating a master node and transit nodes connected by a primary port and a secondary port. The master node blocks the secondary port for data vlan traffic until it detects a fault either by notice from a transit node or by polling. When a fault is detected, the master node unblocks the secondary port for data vlan traffic. When the fault is restored, the transit node temporarily blocks the restored port to data vlan traffic thereby preventing a loop. Each time the secondary port is blocked and unblocked, the forwarding databases on all the nodes are flushed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for automatic protection switching in a ring network by creating a protection domain having a control vlan and protected data vlans and designating a master node and transit nodes connected by a primary port and a secondary port. The master node blocks the secondary port for data vlan traffic until it detects a fault either by notice from a transit node or by polling. When a fault is detected, the master node unblocks the secondary port for data vlan traffic. When the fault is restored, the transit node temporarily blocks the restored port to data vlan traffic thereby preventing a loop. Each time the secondary port is blocked and unblocked, the forwarding databases on all the nodes are flushed.