Enabling multicast-label-distribution-protocol (mLDP) on non-mLDP devices

A method implemented at least in part by a first computing device, the method comprising:

• sending, from the first computing device, a first label-distribution-protocol (LDP) discovery message to a second computing device via a first interface, wherein the second computing device is coupled to the first computing device;
• sending, from the first computing device, a second LDP discovery message to the second computing device via the first interface;
• establishing a first LDP session between a first second interface of the first computing device and the second computing device, wherein establishing the first LDP session is at least partly in response to sending the second LDP discovery message;
• establishing a second LDP session between a third interface of the first computing device and the second computing device;
• receiving, at the first computing device, a request from a third computing device to subscribe to a multicast group, the third computing device coupled to the first computing device via the second interface;
• storing, in an LDP datastore of the first computing device, an association between a first short-path label, the multicast group, and the second interface;
• sending, by the first computing device and to the second computing device via the first LDP session, an indication that the first short-path label is associated with the multicast group;
• receiving, at the first computing device, a request from a fourth computing device to subscribe to the multicast group, the fourth computing device coupled to the first computing device via the third interface;
• storing, in the LDP datastore, an association between a second short-path label, the multicast group and, the third interface;
• and
• sending, by the first computing device and to the second computing device via the second LDP session, an indication that the second short-path label is associated with the multicast group.