Next hop groups
AssigneeArista Networks, Inc.
InventorKenneth James Duda
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In general, the invention relates to a method for programming a network device to perform routing of data packets between and/or within networks. More specifically, the method provides a more efficient process for updating the forwarding equivalence class (FEC) table with minimal impacting of the mappings in the forward information base (FIB) of the network device.
Claims25
A network device comprising a processor, wherein the processor is configured to perform a method, comprising:
- receiving first next hop information that specifies a second network device and a first egress port of the network device;
- populating every entry of a plurality of entries in a next hop group with the first next hop information, wherein a prefix is associated with a forwarding equivalence class (FEC) index and wherein the FEC index is associated with the next hop group;
- receiving a first packet;
- making a first determination that the first packet is associated with the prefix;
- and
- based on the first determination, processing the first packet using the next hop group.
A method for programing a route-deciding network device, comprising:
- receiving, by the route-deciding network device, next hop information;
- identifying a next hop group associated with the next hop information;
- and
- modifying the next hop group based on the next hop information.
A non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform a method of programming a route-deciding network device, wherein the method comprises:
- receiving, by the route-deciding network device, next hop information;
- identifying a next hop group associated with the next hop information;
- and
- modifying the next hop group based on the next hop information.
A method for programing a route-deciding network device, comprising:
- receiving, by the route-deciding network device, next hop information, wherein the next hop information indicates removal of a removed network device;
- identifying a next hop group associated with the next hop information;
- and
- modifying the next hop group based on the next hop information.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.