Abstract: A system, device, and method for establishing and removing a label switched path in a communication network uses a packet-driven mechanism rather than using an explicit signaling protocol to exchange label switching information from an upstream label switching device to a downstream label switching device. In order to establish a label switched path from the upstream label switching device to the downstream label switching device, the upstream label switching device allocates a new label for the label switched path, sets up the label switched path by adding the new label to its forwarding table, and forwards a labeled packet including the new label and an indicator indicating that the packet is labeled. Upon receiving the labeled packet from the upstream label switching device, the downstream label switching device sets up the label switched path by adding the new label to its forwarding table, and forwards the packet based upon network layer addressing information in the packet.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of managing a virtual private network having a set of network devices maintains a network device memory set for storing a set of network device identifiers that identifies each of the set of network device. More particularly, a request to join the virtual private network is received from a given network device having a given network device identifier that identifies the given network device. The set of network device identifiers then is retrieved from the network device memory set to identify all network devices in the set of network devices. A notify message then is forwarded to each of the set of network devices, and a join message is forwarded to the given network device. The notify message includes the given network device identifier, while the join message includes the set of network device identifiers. The given network device identifier then is stored in the network device memory set.

Abstract: A system, device, and method for bypassing network changes in a communication network pre-computes recovery paths to protect various primary paths. A fast detection mechanism is preferably used to detect network changes quickly, and communications are switched over from the primary paths to the recovery paths in order to bypass network changes. Forwarding tables are preferably frozen as new primary paths are computed, and communications are switched over from the recovery paths to the new primary paths in a coordinated manner in order to avoid temporary loops and invalid routes. New recovery paths are computed to protect the new primary paths.