Abstract: Techniques are described herein for optimizing communications in a network. At a router in a virtual private network, a packet is received from a device in a subnetwork protected by the router. The router examines the packet to determine a source address that identifies the device and a destination address that identifies a destination network device for the packet. The router also analyzes the packet to determine a size of the packet and determines whether or not the size of the packet is larger than a maximum transmission unit size. If the size of the packet is larger than the maximum transmission unit size, the router encapsulates the packet with a header that includes the destination address and a new source address that identifies the router.

Abstract: A Key Generation System (KGS) includes a key server, a first network element, and a second network element. The first and second network elements register with the key server and receive first and second KGS key seeds and first and second KGS identifiers, respectively. The first network element transmits the first KGS identifier to the second network element and obtains the second KGS identifier. The first network element computes a shared key based on the first KGS key seed and the second KGS identifier. The second network element receives the first KGS identifier from the first network element and computes the shared key based on the second KGS key seed and the first KGS identifier.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method comprises using a first hub device: establishing one or more secure connections with one or more spoke devices logically arranged as spokes with respect to a data processing system; generating and sending via a high-speed link a hub probe to a second hub device; in response to determining that the second hub device is nonresponsive, transmitting, to the one or more spoke devices a first communication indicating that the second hub device is nonresponsive; using a spoke device, receiving the first communication indicating that the second hub device is nonresponsive; determining whether the spoke device has established a secure connection with the second hub device; in response to determining that the spoke device has established the secure connection with the second hub device, selecting a third hub device, establishing a secure connection with the third hub device, and communicating with the third hub device.

Abstract: A Key Generation System (KGS) includes a key server, a first network element, and a second network element. The first and second network elements register with the key server and receive first and second KGS key seeds and first and second KGS identifiers, respectively. The first network element transmits the first KGS identifier to the second network element and obtains the second KGS identifier. The first network element computes a shared key based on the first KGS key seed and the second KGS identifier. The second network element receives the first KGS identifier from the first network element and computes the shared key based on the second KGS key seed and the first KGS identifier.

Abstract: Techniques are described herein for optimizing communications in a network. At a router in a virtual private network, a packet is received from a device in a subnetwork protected by the router. The router examines the packet to determine a source address that identifies the device and a destination address that identifies a destination network device for the packet. The router also analyzes the packet to determine a size of the packet and determines whether or not the size of the packet is larger than a maximum transmission unit size. If the size of the packet is larger than the maximum transmission unit size, the router encapsulates the packet with a header that includes the destination address and a new source address that identifies the router.

Abstract: Techniques are described herein for optimizing communications in a network. At a router in a virtual private network, a packet is received from a device in a subnetwork protected by the router. The router examines the packet to determine a source address that identifies the device and a destination address that identifies a destination network device for the packet. The router also analyzes the packet to determine a size of the packet and determines whether or not the size of the packet is larger than a maximum transmission unit size. If the size of the packet is larger than the maximum transmission unit size, the router encapsulates the packet with a header that includes the destination address and a new source address that identifies the router.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method comprises using a first hub device: establishing one or more secure connections with one or more spoke devices logically arranged as spokes with respect to a data processing system; generating and sending via a high-speed link a hub probe to a second hub device; in response to determining that the second hub device is nonresponsive, transmitting, to the one or more spoke devices a first communication indicating that the second hub device is nonresponsive; using a spoke device, receiving the first communication indicating that the second hub device is nonresponsive; determining whether the spoke device has established a secure connection with the second hub device; in response to determining that the spoke device has established the secure connection with the second hub device, selecting a third hub device, establishing a secure connection with the third hub device, and communicating with the third hub device.

Abstract: Techniques are described herein for optimizing communications in a network. At a router in a virtual private network, a packet is received from a device in a subnetwork protected by the router. The router examines the packet to determine a source address that identifies the device and a destination address that identifies a destination network device for the packet. The router also analyzes the packet to determine a size of the packet and determines whether or not the size of the packet is larger than a maximum transmission unit size. If the size of the packet is larger than the maximum transmission unit size, the router encapsulates the packet with a header that includes the destination address and a new source address that identifies the router.

Abstract: Techniques are presented for establishing context awareness during first negotiation of secure key exchange. These techniques may be embodied as a method, apparatus or instructions in a computer-readable storage media. At a first network device, a message is received from a second network device as part of an initial exchange of information of a secure key exchange, the message containing information indicating one or more secure key exchange policies acceptable to the second network device and defining one or more associated security parameters. The message further contains context-specific information identifying a context of the second network device. The first network device selects a secure key exchange policy for communicating with the second network device based upon the context-specific information and sends a response message to the second network device containing the selected secure key exchange policy. If the context was understood, the response message also includes context-specific information.

Abstract: Techniques are presented for establishing context awareness during first negotiation of secure key exchange. These techniques may be embodied as a method, apparatus or instructions in a computer-readable storage media. At a first network device, a message is received from a second network device as part of an initial exchange of information of a secure key exchange, the message containing information indicating one or more secure key exchange policies acceptable to the second network device and defining one or more associated security parameters. The message further contains context-specific information identifying a context of the second network device. The first network device selects a secure key exchange policy for communicating with the second network device based upon the context-specific information and sends a response message to the second network device containing the selected secure key exchange policy. If the context was understood, the response message also includes context-specific information.