Cisco Technology, Inc.

Brocade Communications Systems, Inc.

Milind Kulkarni

Kent Kinchu Leung

Alpesh S Patel

Gopal K Dommety

Madhavi Wunnava Chandra

Gaetan Feige

Rabih A Dabboussi

Jayaraman R Iyer

Mani Kancherla

Xin Luo

Techniques for estimating the performance of a network device. In one set of embodiments, a network device can determine one or more performance metrics associated with a feature of the network device that is customizable by a user. An example of such a feature is a user-defined script that is executed via a scripting engine of the network device. The network device can then generate a performance estimate based on the one or more performance metrics. The performance estimate can indicate the likely performance of the network device with the feature enabled.

Performance estimator for network devices

Methods and apparatus for establishing communication between a Mobile Node and a Home Agent are disclosed. The Home Agent receives a registration request packet from the Mobile Node, the registration request packet including an IP source address and a Home Agent address. The Home Agent then detects from the registration request packet when network address translation has been performed. When it has been detected that network address translation has been performed, a tunnel is set up between the Home Agent address and the IP source address.

Methods and apparatus for implementing NAT traversal in mobile IP

Methods and apparatus for performing optimizations for a mobile network device such as a Mobile Node or Mobile Router supporting multiple links to a Home Agent (or Correspondent Node in a Mobile IPv6 environment) are disclosed. During the registration process, link characteristics are transmitted in the registration request. From the link characteristics, it is possible to determine whether the mobile network device has roamed from a high to a low bandwidth link, or vice versa. A first set of optimizations may be performed when the mobile network device has roamed from a high to a low bandwidth link, while a second set of optimizations may be performed when the mobile network device has roamed from a low to a high bandwidth link. Some optimizations may be performed during the establishment of a TCP session, while others may be performed during or upon completion of the Mobile IP registration process.

Mobile network device multi-link optimizations

Methods and apparatuses for conserving addresses. The invention allows a mobile node to manage its own address, shifting responsibility away from the home agent. The home agent is able to detect when a mobile node has already been assigned an address for use of resources on the network. When the home agent recognizes that the mobile address has already been assigned an address, it allows the mobile node to use its already-assigned address in connection with mobile IP services. Additionally, the mobile node can be notified that it is now responsible for renewing the address.

Method and apparatus for reusing DHCP addresses in home addresses of mobile IP clients

Performing management operations for a mobile node present in a foreign network includes performing an address management operation and a mobility management operation. The address management operation includes receiving an address request message at a home address server of a home network of the mobile node, assigning a fixed home address to the mobile node, and sending an address acknowledgment message communicating the fixed home address. The mobility management operation includes receiving a registration request message requesting registration for the mobile node, and registering the mobile node in response to the registration request message.

Managing endpoint addresses separately from managing endpoint mobility

Methods and apparatus for optimizing NAT traversal in Mobile IP are disclosed. Various mechanisms may performed independently or in combination with one another. A first mechanism enables one-way keep alive messaging to the Home Agent, while a second mechanism enables two-way keep alive messaging to the Home Agent, thereby enabling an entry in a NAT translation table to be maintained. The two-way keep alive messaging requires that the Home Agent send an acknowledgement message, while the one-way keep alive messaging does not. Keep alive messaging may be performed at the Mobile Node or the Foreign Agent. A third mechanism enables a Foreign Agent to encapsulate a registration request packet with the Foreign Agent care-of address in the source IP address field rather than an egress interface of the Foreign Agent. A fourth mechanism enables a Mobile Node to force a Home Agent to perform UDP tunneling.

Methods and apparatus for optimizing NAT traversal in Mobile IP

Methods and apparatuses for allowing mobile nodes to have access to mobility functions after being attached to their home networks are disclosed. The invention allows a home agent to authenticate a registration request and validate a DHCP-acquired home address even if no mobile bindings currently exist. Typically, a home agent will not create mobility bindings if a mobile node attaches itself to a home agent network segment. By using either cached information or DHCP resources, the home agent can approve a registration request.

DHCP based home address management of mobile IP clients

Methods and apparatuses for obtaining home agent assignment. The invention uses a DNS query to signal a request for dynamic home agent assignment. The DNS query will cause a content routing device to be notified that home agent assignment is being requested. The content routing device can then use predetermined metrics to select a home agent. A DNS response will then be sent back to the device that initiated the DNS query containing the IP address of the selected home agent.

Methods and apparatus for anchoring of mobile nodes using DNS

Methods and apparatus for processing a registration request from a Mobile Node that has roamed to a Foreign Agent supporting Mobile IP are disclosed. In a first one of a plurality of Home Agents supporting Mobile IP, a registration request addressed to a virtual Home Agent address associated with the plurality of Home Agents is received. The registration request is then sent to a second one of the plurality of Home Agents such that the second one of the plurality of Home Agents creates a binding between the Mobile Node and the Foreign Agent. The first one of the plurality of Home Agents creates a temporary binding between the Mobile Node and the Foreign Agent. A registration reply is then received from the second one of the plurality of Home Agents. The temporary binding is then updated to create a permanent binding when the registration reply is received from the second one of the plurality of Home Agents. The registration reply is then sent to the Foreign Agent identified in the temporary binding.

Growing community of inventors

San Jose, CA, United States of America

Milind Kulkarni