Supporting multiple transport options for border gateway protocol

A first router, comprising:

• a transceiver configured to transmit a first message comprising information identifying a first set of transport layer protocols supported by the first router and receive a second message comprising information identifying a second set of transport layer protocols supported by a second router;
• and
• a processor configured to:
• determine, based on the information identifying the first and second sets of transport layer protocols supported by the first and second routers, respectively, a subset of transport layer protocols supported by the first and second routers;
• select, from the subset of transport layer protocols, a common transport layer protocol supported by the first and second routers, wherein the first and second sets of transport layer protocols are ordered based on preferences of the first and second routers, respectively, and
• establish a border gateway protocol (BGP) session with the second router over the common transport layer protocol.

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform:
• determining, based on exchanging of information identifying first and second sets of transport layer protocols supported by first and second routers, respectively, a subset of transport layer protocols supported by the first and second routers, wherein the exchanging of information includes at least one of:
• transmitting, from the first router, a first message comprising the information identifying the first set of transport layer protocols supported by the first router;
• or
• receiving, at the first router, a second message comprising the information identifying the second set of transport layer protocols supported by the second router;
• selecting, from the subset of transport layer protocols, a common transport layer protocol supported by the first and second routers, wherein selecting the common transport layer protocol comprises ordering the first and second sets of transport layer protocols based on preferences of the first and second routers, respectively;
• and
• establishing a border gateway protocol (BGP) session with the second router over the common transport layer protocol.