Worldwide Packets, Inc.

Ciena Corporation

Scott Daniel Wilsey

Darren William Oye

Kevin Q Daines

Bo Wen

Louis Reis

K Gintaras Atkinson

Dackary Ronald Busch

Eric Stewart Davison

An element manager and programming collect a first element topology from a first element among a plurality of elements in a network. The first element topology describes only connections between the first element and other elements of the plurality directly connected to the first element. The element manager and programming collect a second element topology from a second element among the plurality of elements. The second element topology describes only connections between the second element and other elements of the plurality directly connected to the second element. The element manager and programming merge the element topologies collected from the elements into a single network topology describing connections between the plurality of elements.

Progressively determining a network topology and using neighbor information to determine network topology

An element manager and programming discover that a network managed by the element manager comprises a network element. The network element stores a set of values describing a configuration of the network element. In response to the discovering, the element manager and programming automatically retrieve three or more subsets of the set of values from the network element in three or more respective, different stages. A network includes a first network element configured to provide first values describing a configuration of the first network element, a second network element configured to provide second values describing a configuration of the second network element, and an element manager configured to discover the network elements, to automatically retrieve the first values in a first number of stages, and to automatically retrieve the second values in a different second number of stages.

Multi-stage value retrieval and multi-rate value retrieval

Packet switch operating methods and packet switches use a first port of forwarding circuitry of the packet switch to receive first packets and transmit second packets. The methods and packet switches mirror the first and second packets on a second port of the forwarding circuitry, encapsulate the mirrored packets with a transport identifier, and transmit the encapsulated packets using a third port of the forwarding circuitry.

Modifying a duplicated packet and forwarding encapsulated packets

Element managers and processes retrieve information from a first packet switch. The information is derived from layer-two (data link layer) control packets relayed from a second packet switch to the first packet switch via a tunnel. The layer-two control packets conform to a layer-two control protocol. Based at least in part on the retrieved information, the element managers and processes determine that the tunnel is configured to relay layer-two control packets conforming to the layer-two control protocol despite a desired tunnel configuration specifying that the tunnel should not be configured to relay layer-two control packets conforming to the layer-two control protocol. Element managers and processes may alternatively or additionally detect other discrepancies between the desired tunnel configuration and the tunnel.

Determining the state of a tunnel with respect to a control protocol

Element managers and processes receive, from a selected network element, first neighbor information describing a first neighboring network element directly connected to the selected network element and second neighbor information describing a different second neighboring network element directly connected to the selected network element. Based at least in part on the first neighbor information and the second neighbor information, the element managers and processes determine that the first neighboring network element is a logical neighbor that is connected by a tunnel to the selected network element and is coupled to the selected network element via one or more intermediate packet switches.

Determining a logical neighbor of a network element

If a selected packet switch connected to a neighboring packet switch makes first information identifying the neighboring packet switch available, element managers and processes retrieve the first information from the selected packet switch. The first information is derived by the selected packet switch from communication via a first protocol between the selected packet switch and the neighboring packet switch. If the first information is not available to the element manager and if the selected packet switch makes second information identifying the neighboring packet switch available to the element manager, the element managers and processes retrieve the second information from the selected packet switch. The second information is derived from communication via a second protocol between the selected packet switch and the neighboring packet switch and the first and second protocols are different protocols.

Obtaining identification information for a neighboring network element

An element manager acquires information identifying a network element. Based on the acquired information, the element manager associates a template configuration with the network element. The template configuration includes configuration parameter values. Subsequent to the associating, the element manager provides configuration information describing a configuration of the network element without retrieving the configuration information from the network element. The configuration information is based on the template configuration. An element manager and programming first determine that a configuration of a network element should match a template configuration. The configuration includes configuration parameter values utilized by the network element. The element manager and programming acquire at least one of the configuration parameter values and determine that the at least one acquired configuration parameter value does not match a corresponding configuration parameter value of the template configuration. Based on this determination, the element manager and programming take an action.

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Mead, WA, United States of America

Scott Daniel Wilsey