Abstract: A controller device receives, from a plurality of assisted replication network devices, respective utilization information associated with the plurality of assisted replication network devices. The controller device generates, based on the respective utilization information associated with the plurality of assisted replication network devices, load balancing information for a network device associated with two or more assisted replication network devices of the plurality of assisted replication network devices, and sends, to the network device, the load balancing information. The network selects, based on the load balancing information, a particular assisted replication network device of the two or more assisted replication network devices.

Abstract: An example egress network device includes at least one computer processor and a memory. The memory includes instructions that cause the at least one computer processor to receive messages from each of a plurality of ingress network devices. Each message specifies a multicast source as an anycast address that belongs to two or more sources, a multicast group, and a customer site identifier that uniquely identifies a customer network device via which the anycast address is reachable. The instructions cause the at least one computer processor to select, based on the customer site identifiers, one of the plurality of ingress network devices to which to send a multicast join message of a plurality of multicast join messages for the multicast source and multicast group. The instructions cause the at least one computer processor to send the multicast join message to the selected one of the plurality of ingress network devices.

Abstract: A network device may receive a first redundant multicast flow indication from a first network device, and may receive a second redundant multicast flow indication from a second network device. The device may designate a primary multicast flow based on the first redundant multicast flow indication, and may designate a backup multicast flow based on the second redundant multicast flow indication. The device may accept the primary multicast flow and may discard the backup multicast flow.

Abstract: An example egress network device includes at least one computer processor and a memory. The memory includes instructions that cause the at least one computer processor to receive messages from each of a plurality of ingress network devices. Each message specifies a multicast source as an anycast address that belongs to two or more sources, a multicast group, and a customer site identifier that uniquely identifies a customer network device via which the anycast address is reachable. The instructions cause the at least one computer processor to select, based on the customer site identifiers, one of the plurality of ingress network devices to which to send a multicast join message of a plurality of multicast join messages for the multicast source and multicast group. The instructions cause the at least one computer processor to send the multicast join message to the selected one of the plurality of ingress network devices.

Abstract: The techniques describe example network systems providing core-facing designated forwarder (DF) election to forward multicast traffic into an EVPN of a core network. For example, a first PE device of a plurality of PE devices participating in an EVPN comprises one or more processors operably coupled to a memory, wherein the one or more processors are configured to: determine that a first multicast traffic flow has started for the first PE device; in response, send a source-active (SA) route to indicate the first multicast traffic flow has started for the first PE device; receive, from a second PE device, a second SA route that indicates that a second multicast traffic flow has started for the second PE device; and perform an election of a core-facing DF from among the first PE device and second PE device, wherein the core-facing DF is configured to forward the multicast traffic into the EVPN.

Abstract: The techniques describe example network systems providing core-facing designated forwarder (DF) election to forward multicast traffic into an EVPN of a core network. For example, a first PE device of a plurality of PE devices participating in an EVPN comprises one or more processors operably coupled to a memory, wherein the one or more processors are configured to: determine that a first multicast traffic flow has started for the first PE device; in response, send a source-active (SA) route to indicate the first multicast traffic flow has started for the first PE device; receive, from a second PE device, a second SA route that indicates that a second multicast traffic flow has started for the second PE device; and perform an election of a core-facing DF from among the first PE device and second PE device, wherein the core-facing DF is configured to forward the multicast traffic into the EVPN.

Abstract: In general, techniques are described for enabling a network of network devices (or “nodes”) to provide redundant multicast streams from redundant multicast sources to an egress network node. In some examples, the egress network node (or a controller for the network) computes maximally redundant trees (MRTs) from the egress network node to a virtual proxy node virtually added to the network topology by the egress network node for redundant multicast sources of redundant multicast streams.

Abstract: An example egress network device includes at least one computer processor and a memory. The memory includes instructions that cause the at least one computer processor to receive messages from each of a plurality of ingress network devices. Each message specifies a multicast source as an anycast address that belongs to two or more sources, a multicast group, and a customer site identifier that uniquely identifies a customer network device via which the anycast address is reachable. The instructions cause the at least one computer processor to select, based on the customer site identifiers, one of the plurality of ingress network devices to which to send a multicast join message of a plurality of multicast join messages for the multicast source and multicast group. The instructions cause the at least one computer processor to send the multicast join message to the selected one of the plurality of ingress network devices.

Abstract: A device may store first information regarding a first pseudowire connection with a first device, wherein the first pseudowire connection provides access to an Ethernet virtual private network (EVPN) to communicate with a host device. The device may store second information regarding a second pseudowire connection with a second device, wherein the second pseudowire connection provides access to the EVPN to communicate with the host device. The device may receive a message that includes a configuration identifier and identify the configuration identifier. The device may change a first characteristic of the first pseudowire connection based on the configuration identifier. The device may change a second characteristic of the second pseudowire connection based on the configuration identifier. The device may receive data from the host device based on changing the first characteristic of the first pseudowire connection and changing the second characteristic of the second pseudowire connection.

Abstract: Techniques are described for facilitating node protection for Broadcast, unknown Unicast, and Multicast (BUM) traffic for a multi-homed node failure. For example, each VTEP (e.g., PE device) may advertise a protected VTEP address that indicates an IP address of a remote PE device that is to be protected in the event of a node failure. In the event a multi-homed PE device fails, the ingress PE device sends a BUM packet including the protected VTEP address for the failed node. When an egress PE device receives the BUM packet, the egress PE device determines whether the BUM packet includes the protected VTEP address and whether the egress PE device is operating as a backup designated forwarder (DF). If the BUM packet includes the protected VTEP address and the egress PE device is a backup DF, the egress PE device forwards the BUM traffic to the ESI.

Abstract: An example network device includes memory configured to store packet data and processor circuitry coupled to the memory. The processing circuitry is configured to determine that a first host device has moved from a first access network of an Ethernet virtual private network (EVPN) associated with the first PE router to a second access network of the EVPN, wherein the first host device is interested in receiving traffic of a first multicast group. The processing circuitry is configured to determine whether any other host device on the first access network of the network device is interested in receiving traffic of the first multicast group. Based on no other host device on the first access network of the network device being interested in receiving multicast traffic of the first multicast group, the processing circuitry is configured to delete state associated with the first multicast group.

Abstract: The techniques describe example network systems for adaptively determining whether to perform ingress replication or assisted replication of a multicast flow based on classification of the multicast flow. For example, a provider edge (PE) device of a plurality of PE devices participating in an EVPN comprises one or more processors operably coupled to a memory, wherein the one or more processors are configured to: receive a multicast traffic flow, determine a classification of the multicast traffic flow, and perform, based at least in part on the classification of the multicast traffic flow, one of: ingress replication of the multicast traffic flow or assisted replication of the multicast traffic flow.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for improved multicasting of source VLAN multicast traffic. For example, a method includes receiving, by a switch device within a data center of a leaf and spine network, multicast traffic from a multicast source; sending, by the switch device and to a border device within the data center that is communicatively coupled to a multicast rendezvous point external to the data center, a source-active routing message to indicate that the switch device is receiving multicast traffic from the multicast source; receiving, by the switch device and from the border device, a response routing message including an extended community that indicates whether there are any interested multicast receivers; and configuring, by the switch device, a forwarding engine of the switch device based on the extended community.

Abstract: The techniques describe example network systems providing core-facing designated forwarder (DF) election to forward multicast traffic into an EVPN of a core network. For example, a first PE device of a plurality of PE devices participating in an EVPN comprises one or more processors operably coupled to a memory, wherein the one or more processors are configured to: determine that a first multicast traffic flow has started for the first PE device; in response, send a source-active (SA) route to indicate the first multicast traffic flow has started for the first PE device; receive, from a second PE device, a second SA route that indicates that a second multicast traffic flow has started for the second PE device; and perform an election of a core-facing DF from among the first PE device and second PE device, wherein the core-facing DF is configured to forward the multicast traffic into the EVPN.

Abstract: In general, techniques are described for providing control plane-based OISM forwarding. For example, network devices may configure two types of next hops for a multicast group. For example, the next hops may include an L2-switched next hop and an L3-routed next hop. The L2-switched next hop specifies the one or more other PE devices as a next hop for multicast traffic for the multicast group that is received on an access-facing interface of the PE device and switched on a source Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN). The L3-routed next hop specifies a list (e.g., either an empty list or specifying incapable Integrated Routing and Bridging (IRB) devices) as a next hop for multicast traffic for the multicast group that is received over an EVPN core on a core-facing interface of the PE device and locally routed from the source VLAN to a listener VLAN.

Abstract: Port synchronization is provided for multicast on an Ethernet segment (ES) in which a device (CE) is multihomed to at least two devices (PE1 and PE2) of a VLAN.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for improved multicasting of source VLAN multicast traffic. For example, a method includes receiving, by a switch device within a data center of a leaf and spine network, multicast traffic from a multicast source; sending, by the switch device and to a border device within the data center that is communicatively coupled to a multicast rendezvous point external to the data center, a source-active routing message to indicate that the switch device is receiving multicast traffic from the multicast source; receiving, by the switch device and from the border device, a response routing message including an extended community that indicates whether there are any interested multicast receivers; and configuring, by the switch device, a forwarding engine of the switch device based on the extended community.

Abstract: Techniques are described for multicast flow prioritization in protocol independent multicast (PIM) networks with multicast flow limits. According to the disclosed techniques, once a router has reached its multicast flow limit, the router may preempt an installed lower priority multicast flow with a newly requested higher priority multicast flow. For example, if a maximum number of multicast flows are installed on the router, then, upon receiving a PIM join for a higher priority flow as compared to the installed flows, the router replaces one of the installed lower priority flows with the received higher priority flow. Furthermore, according to the disclosed techniques, priority values for multicast flows are consistent across a PIM domain and each of the routers within the PIM domain is configured to use the priority values to select a higher priority flow over a lower priority flow.

Abstract: Port synchronization is provided for multicast on an Ethernet segment (ES) in which a device (CE) is multihomed to at least two devices (PE1 and PE2) of a VLAN.

Abstract: In general, techniques are described for providing control plane-based OISM forwarding. For example, network devices may configure two types of next hops for a multicast group. For example, the next hops may include an L2-switched next hop and an L3-routed next hop. The L2-switched next hop specifies the one or more other PE devices as a next hop for multicast traffic for the multicast group that is received on an access-facing interface of the PE device and switched on a source Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN). The L3-routed next hop specifies a list (e.g., either an empty list or specifying incapable Integrated Routing and Bridging (IRB) devices) as a next hop for multicast traffic for the multicast group that is received over an EVPN core on a core-facing interface of the PE device and locally routed from the source VLAN to a listener VLAN.