Abstract: A system can determine by which path/tunnel an Internet destination can be best reached for a user with an IP address from a static BGP range. The system looks up the destination address in an egress map. This map can either specify a tunnel that should be used for encapsulation for static BGP, or (when tunnel is not present) cause the system to send out unencapsulated traffic, in which the traffic follows normal BGP routing on a border network.

Abstract: A reverse network tracing mechanism is described. In an embodiment, a network information request is received that is addressed to a predetermined destination. It is determined that the network information request has an expired timer and a message is returned indicating that a return network path routing procedure has been initiated. After determining that the network information request has an unexpired timer, contents of the network information request are modified to enable identification of at least a portion of the return path from the predetermined destination to a source address of the network information request.

Abstract: Probe packets are transmitted from a source network to an external network to validate that the external network is accepting network prefix announcements to be loaded into forwarding tables of routers of the external network to ensure network connectivity. The network prefix announcements can be Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) announcements transmitted from the source network to the external network during a BGP peering session. After announcing a network prefix announcement, the source network can transmit a probe packet having a destination address in a range associated with the announced network prefix to the external network. An edge router of the source network can monitor incoming packets using an ingress Access Control List (ACL) to detect whether the probe packet returns, and if so, validate that the network prefix announcement was successful. If the probe packet does not return, an alert can be generated and/or remedial actions can be taken.

Abstract: A data delivery service of a service provider may receive respective job specifications for different data transfer jobs between computing infrastructure collections (e.g., data centers). A job specification for a data transfer job may include an amount of data to be transferred for the data transfer job, one or more destinations of data transfers for the data transfer job, and/or one or more flexibility parameters for successful transfer of the data for the data transfer job (e.g., a deadline to transfer the data, available data delivery techniques). The data delivery service may determine a schedule for performing different data transfer jobs between two or more infrastructures based on an analysis of the amount of data to be transferred for each job, the destinations of the data transfer for each job, the flexibility parameters for each job (e.g., included in the respective job specifications), and the connectivity between computing infrastructure collections.

Abstract: The following description is directed to encrypting the characteristics of network traffic. In one example, a method can include receiving an unencrypted link layer packet including a first payload of a first size. The method can include encrypting the first payload of the unencrypted link layer packet. The method can include generating an encrypted link layer packet including a second payload. The second payload can include the encrypted payload and a variable length padding field so that the second payload of the encrypted link layer packet is a different size than the first size of the first payload. The encrypted link layer packet can then be transmitted.

Abstract: The following description is directed to managing a hierarchical network including one or more network zones. In one example, a method of managing a hierarchical network includes collecting network state from respective devices of a network zone; using the collected network state to build an aggregated topology of the network zone; and transmitting the aggregated topology of the network zone to a traffic engineering service.

Abstract: A reverse network tracing mechanism is described. In an embodiment, a network information request is received that is addressed to a predetermined destination. It is determined that the network information request has an expired timer and a message is returned indicating that a return network path routing procedure has been initiated. After determining that the network information request has an unexpired timer, contents of the network information request are modified to enable identification of at least a portion of the return path from the predetermined destination to a source address of the network information request.

Abstract: A power distribution system includes two or more power components that distribute power to one or more electrical components. At least some of the power components send and receive signals over power transmission lines to upstream or downstream power components in the power distribution system. The signals include information about power components in the power distribution system.

Abstract: A fast reroute (FRR) implementation utilizes an optimized FRR table to implement a fast switchover to a backup link upon detecting a primary link failure on a label switched path (LSP). The switchover can be performed in a negligible amount of time (close to zero milliseconds) based on a backup indicator flag which can be dynamically updated. The FRR table stores pre-determined backup egress interfaces and FRR labels corresponding to primary egress interfaces to minimize the switchover time.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described to provide fault tolerant folded Clos networks. A folded Clos network is disclosed including a set of tier 1 routers interconnected with a set of tier 2 routers. Tier 1 routers are configured to view a set of tier 2 routers as a single aggregate router. Accordingly, tier 1 routers are unaware of faults between tier 2 routers and additional tier 1 routers. A throwback router is connected to each tier 2 router to facilitate handling of data under such fault conditions. When a tier 2 router receives undeliverable data, the data is passed to a throwback router, which retransmits the data to an additional tier 2 router. Data that is retransmitted multiple times can be disregarded by the throwback router.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, at a call block system, an indication of a call to a communication device. The method includes, in response to the indication and based on a determination that a call block feature is disabled for the communication device, outputting a first tone from the call block system to the communication device. The method further includes, in response to the indication and based on a determination that the call block feature is enabled, outputting a second tone from the call block system to the communication device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described to detect routes utilized by client computing devices to access anycast points of presence. Multiple anycast points of presence may be associated with an anycast destination address. A client computing device may therefore connect to any of the multiple anycast points of presence, selected based on routing protocols. In some instances, client computing devices may connect to an undesirable point of presence. In order to detect an diagnose undesirable anycast connections, individual point of presence are configured to transmit anycast probes to client computing devices and/or nodes connecting the point of presence and a client computing device. Responses to each probe may be transmitted to the anycast destination address, which may be routed to an originating point of presence or to an alternative point of presence. Resulting data may be used to automatically generate warnings indicating undesirable anycast connections.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described to provide fault tolerant folded Clos networks. A folded Clos network is disclosed including a set of tier 1 routers interconnected with a set of tier 2 routers. Tier 1 routers are configured to view a set of tier 2 routers as a single aggregate router. Accordingly, tier 1 routers are unaware of faults between tier 2 routers and additional tier 1 routers. A throwback router is connected to each tier 2 router to facilitate handling of data under such fault conditions. When a tier 2 router receives undeliverable data, the data is passed to a throwback router, which retransmits the data to an additional tier 2 router. Data that is retransmitted multiple times can be disregarded by the throwback router.

Abstract: A reverse network tracing mechanism is described. In an embodiment, a network information request is received that is addressed to a predetermined destination. It is determined that the network information request has an expired timer and a message is returned indicating that a return network path routing procedure has been initiated. After determining that the network information request has an unexpired timer, contents of the network information request are modified to enable identification of at least a portion of the return path from the predetermined destination to a source address of the network information request.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for establishing a connection between a provisioning environment having one or more virtual provisioning machines associated therewith and a set of devices located remotely from the provisioning environment, and for facilitating establishment of a provisioned state for the set of remote devices based at least in part on a provisioning state associated with the virtual provisioning machines.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, at a call block system, an indication of a call to a communication device. The method includes, in response to the indication and based on a determination that a call block feature is disabled for the communication device, outputting a first tone from the call block system to the communication device. The method further includes, in response to the indication and based on a determination that the call block feature is enabled, outputting a second tone from the call block system to the communication device.

Abstract: A power distribution system includes two or more power components that distribute power to one or more electrical components. At least some of the power components send and receive signals over power transmission lines to upstream or downstream power components in the power distribution system. The signals include information about power components in the power distribution system.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described to provide fault tolerant folded Clos networks. A folded Clos network is disclosed including a set of tier 1 routers interconnected with a set of tier 2 routers. Tier 1 routers are configured to view a set of tier 2 routers as a single aggregate router. Accordingly, tier 1 routers are unaware of faults between tier 2 routers and additional tier 1 routers. A throwback router is connected to each tier 2 router to facilitate handling of data under such fault conditions. When a tier 2 router receives undeliverable data, the data is passed to a throwback router, which retransmits the data to an additional tier 2 router. Data that is retransmitted multiple times can be disregarded by the throwback router.

Abstract: A computer implemented method includes outputting a dial tone from a call block system. The dial tone indicates to a calling party that a call block feature is enabled for a party. The computer implemented method includes storing messages for the party when the call block feature is enabled.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described that instruct routers having constrained hardware/memory to redirect all outbound traffic to a helper router. The helper router contains a full routing table that can forward any packet to its destination. In a large service provider network, helper routers may be distributed at multiple locations across the network. Since packets must detour through the helper router, the distributed helper routers minimize latency.