Cisco Technology, Inc.

Mohammed Azhar Sayeed

James Neil Guichard

Jean-Philippe Vasseur

Alton Lo

Wojciech Dec

Daniel C Tappan

Earl Hardin Booth, Iii

Christopher Metz

W Mark Townsley

W Scott Wainner

Bertrand Duvivier

Anna Charny

Thomas David Nadeau

Robert Hanzl

Sam K Aldrin

Sumit Mukhopadhyay

In one embodiment, a primary tail-end node (PTE) of a point-to-multipoint (P2MP) tunnel selects a backup tail-end node (BTE) from one or more BTEs that are configured to forward traffic to a same multicast network as the PTE. The PTE then determines a branching node of the P2MP tunnel to reach the PTE and the selected BTE, and notifies the branching node of the selected BTE. In response, the branching node establishes a backup tunnel to the selected BTE, and redirects P2MP traffic onto the backup tunnel to the selected BTE in response to a detected failure of the PTE.

Failure protection for P2MP tunnel tail-end node

In one embodiment, a primary head-end node (PHE) and one or more backup head-end nodes (BHEs) receive traffic from a common multicast network. The PHE establishes a primary point-to-multipoint (P2MP) tunnel and forwards the multicast traffic onto the primary P2MP tunnel. The PHE then notifies a selected BHE of one or more characteristics of the primary P2MP tunnel, and the selected BHE establishes a backup P2MP tunnel with the characteristics of the primary P2MP tunnel. In response to detecting a failure of the PHE, the BHE initiates forwarding of the multicast traffic onto the backup P2MP tunnel.

Failure protection for P2MP tunnel head-end node

A method and system for automatically generating a route distinguisher for a virtual private network are disclosed. The method includes receiving a virtual private network name and rejecting the virtual private network name if the name comprises a number of bytes greater than a predefined limit. If the virtual private network name is less than the predefined limit, an algorithm is applied to automatically convert the virtual private network name to a route distinguisher for the virtual private network.

Method and system for automatic generation of route distinguishers for virtual private networks

A method, apparatus and computer program product for routing data within a packet-switched network using a PW wherein the PW is terminated directly on the layer-3 routing device such that certain services and applications can be utilized is presented. The method, apparatus and computer program product receives an encapsulated layer-2 Protocol Data Unit (PDU) from a pseudowire emulating a service. The encapsulation is removed from the encapsulated layer-2 PDU and a layer-2 circuit associated with the pseudowire is terminated. The circuit is treated as an interface and the PDU is forwarded based on upper layer protocol information within the PDU.

Psuedowire termination directly on a router

A method and apparatus for network monitoring using a proxy are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method generally comprises receiving at a proxy, path information for a label switched path (LSP) from a forwarding device located in the LSP, generating a connectivity verification message based on the path information, adding a proxy label to the connectivity verification message, and transmitting the connectivity verification message to the forwarding device. The proxy label is configured to inject the connectivity verification message into a forwarding plane at the forwarding device and the connectivity verification message is configured for transmittal from the forwarding device over the LSP to a destination node to verify a forwarding path associated with the path information received from the forwarding device.

Network monitoring using a proxy

A method, apparatus and computer program product each provides interconnectivity between autonomous systems. A control plane and a data plane are included in a network device. A single interface is included in the control plane for all customers. An interface is included in the data plane for each respective one of the customers.

Interconnectivity between autonomous systems

Pseudowire termination directly on a router

Growing community of inventors

Shrewsbury, MA, United States of America

Mohammed Azhar Sayeed