Nortel Networks Corporation

Bill Hawe

James V Luciani

Andre N Fredette

Reuven Moskovich

Yuval Shvirsky

A system, device, and method for supporting virtual private networks in a label switched communication network utilizes an extended Next Hop Resolution Protocol in order to establish a label switched path for a particular virtual private network. Specifically, label information and a corresponding virtual private network identifier are carried in certain Next Hop Resolution Protocol messages. A label request and a corresponding virtual private network identifier is carried in Next Hop Resolution Protocol Resolution Request messages that are forwarded hop-by-hop by a number of devices along a forward path. Label mapping information and a corresponding virtual private network identifier are carried in Next Hop Resolution Protocol reply messages that are forwarded hop-by-hop by the devices in the forward path. In various embodiments of the invention, the label information and the corresponding virtual private network identifier may be carried in a type-length-value field, and the Next Hop Resolution Protocol reply messages may be Next Hop Resolution Protocol Resolution Reply messages or novel Next Hop Resolution Protocol Label Mapping messages.

System, device, and method for supporting virtual private networks in a label switched communication network

A method and apparatus for monitoring the performance of a dedicated communications medium in a switched data networking environment wherein a probe having a bypass circuit allows promiscuous monitoring of all traffic between a switch and a network device, such as a file server, in either direction, and in full duplex mode. Additionally, the bypass circuit eliminates the requirement for a separate repeater between the switch and the network device.

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Pepperell, MA, United States of America

Bill Hawe