Juniper Networks, Inc.

Shivani Aggarwal

Ina Minei

James Washburn

Kireeti Kompella

Yakov Rekhter

Nischal Sheth

Techniques are described for scaling Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) across areas of an autonomous system using a labeled interior Border Gateway Protocol (iBGP). A method includes executing a first label distribution protocol at a border node at a border between two of a plurality of interior gateway protocol (IGP) areas of a single autonomous system (AS), and exchanging label distribution messages using the first label distribution protocol to establish a first intra-area label switched path (LSP) within a first one of IGP areas. The method also includes executing a labeled interior border gateway protocol at the border node, and exchanging label distribution messages using the labeled interior border gateway protocol to establish a hierarchical inter-area LSP that runs over the previously established first intra-area LSP, wherein the hierarchical inter-area LSP extends across the plurality of IGP areas of the AS.

Scaling MPLS across areas of an autonomous system using labeled interior border gateway protocol

Filters are selectively applied to packets depending on forwarding equivalence classes (FECs) of the packets. A FEC filter is defined within the network device and qualified by incoming interface information that identifies source sites of the packets. A label distribution protocol (LDP) FEC is configured such that packets of the given FEC are associated with the FEC filter. The FEC identifies a destination site of the packets received by the router and is automatically combined with incoming interface information. In this way, packet flows may be filtered based on FECs of the packets. FEC filters may be further refined to operate at forwarding class granularity. The techniques allow accurate billing of packets traveling between specific source and destination sites regardless of the number of interfaces of the network device the packets utilize. In addition, the filtering can be used to provide anti-spoofing capabilities.

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San Francisco, CA, United States of America

Shivani Aggarwal