A network device such as a router or a switch is comprised of a control module and a plurality of physical line cards. The control module includes a control processor virtual machine, a plurality of route processing virtual machines and one or more instances of a line card virtual machine. The line card virtual machine operates to receive routing information base update information, to modify the routing information base according to the update information and to update each instance of a plurality of forwarding information bases included on each of the physical line cards.

Virtual network device architecture

The present disclosure provides hybrid packet-optical private network systems and methods for a private and dedicated multi-point Ethernet Private Local Area Network (EPLAN). The network systems and methods include a Layer 1 infrastructure service with the inclusion of reserved, dedicated packet switch capacity upon which clients can build their personal, private packet networks. In the systems and methods described herein, packet networking methods are not used to partition the isolated LAN connectivity. Instead, dedicated Ethernet Private LANs (EPLs) are defined between dedicated virtual switching instances (VSIs) that are defined, as necessary, within larger packet-optical switches. Each VSI is partitioned from the remainder of its packet switch fabric as a dedicated, private resource for a specific EPLAN. A packet network is then built by the customer on top of the private EPLAN bandwidth and operated as an isolated, private network with no influence by other carrier's network resources.

Hybrid packet-optical private network systems and methods

The present invention is directed to the aggregation of data packets and to super packets for transmission across a communication network. In accordance with the present invention, an identifier associated with individual data packets is examined to determine whether such individual packet is suitable for inclusion in a super packet containing data packets associated with individual data flows. The identification may be included within a field established for a purpose other than marking an individual data packet in connection with forming aggregate packets. In particular, preexisting data fields may be utilized to identify packets for purposes of forming aggregate data streams.

Packet data flow identification for multiplexing

Communications between a source and a destination include receiving, at an egress edge device from an ingress edge device, an upper layer packet including a virtual private network identification identifying a destination. The upper layer packet is authenticated at the egress edge device using the virtual private network identification by comparing the virtual private network identification against an expectation for the upper layer packet. Upon authentication, the upper layer packet is decapsulated into a lower layer packet for the destination.

Broadband access for virtual private networks

Certain exemplary embodiments comprise a method that can comprise, via an Ethernet Channel Service Unit (ECSU), providing a packet conversion between a Serial Wide Area Network (WAN) protocol and an Ethernet network protocol. The ECSU can be adapted to provide access to a network service between a first device adapted to communicate using an Ethernet protocol via the Ethernet network and a second device adapted to communicate using a serial protocol via the Serial WAN.

Methods, systems, and/or devices for providing network access

This invention creates a method and a device to implement cheaper, faster and more efficient communications networks and Virtual Private Networks. This is achieved by placing MPLS and non MPLS frames into GFP frames and performing MPLS functions within the GFP layer and optionally integrating with SONET/SDH/OTN cross connection functions or with Wavelength division multiplexing to create the GFP MPLS device. This technique called GFP MPLS switching, switches the GFP MPLS frames as if they are MPLS frames at intermediate devices. The GFP MPLS switched circuits are optionally groomed and carried over virtually concatenated SONET/SDH/OTN circuits and multiplexed with other TDM traffic for transport over SONET/SDH/OTN or WDM.

Method and a system to build efficient communications networks in which MPLS functionality is incorporated within the SONET/SDH/OTN transport equipment by performing it in the GFP layer

Raghu Mannam

Papers

Method and a system to build efficient communications networks in which MPLS functionality is incorporated within the SONET/SDH/OTN transport equipment by performing it in the GFP layer