Dynamic protection against failure of a head-end node of one or more TE-LSPs

An apparatus for dynamically protecting against failure of a head-end node of one or more primary Traffic Engineering Label Switched Paths (TE-LSPs) in a computer network, the apparatus comprising:

• means for learning the one or more primary TE-LSPs extending from the head-end node to one or more address prefixes at a neighboring upstream node (protecting node) of the head-end node;
• means for establishing a repair TE-LSP for each of the one or more primary TE-LSPs from the protecting node to a corresponding downstream neighboring node of the head-end node (next-next-hop);
• means for detecting a failure of the head-end node at the protecting node;
• and, in response
• means for locally rerouting traffic at the protecting node destined for the one or more address prefixes via the head-end node to an appropriate repair TE-LSP.

A computer readable medium containing executable program instructions for dynamically protecting against failure of a head-end node of one or more primary Traffic Engineering Label Switched Paths (TE-LSPs) in a computer network, the executable program instructions comprising program instructions for:

• learning the one or more primary TE-LSPs extending from the head-end node to one or more address prefixes at a neighboring upstream node (protecting node) of the head-end node;
• establishing a repair TE-LSP for each of the one or more primary TE-LSPs from the protecting node to a corresponding downstream neighboring node of the head-end node (next-next-hop);
• detecting a failure of the head-end node at the protecting node;
• and, in response
• locally rerouting traffic at the protecting node destined for the one or more address prefixes via the head-end node to an appropriate repair TE-LSP.

A node for dynamically protecting against failure of a head-end node of one or more primary Traffic Engineering Label Switched Paths (TE-LSPs) in a computer network, wherein the node is a neighboring upstream node (protecting node) of the head-end node, the node comprising:

• one or more network interfaces;
• a processor coupled to the one or more network interfaces and adapted to execute software processes;
• and
• a memory adapted to store a protection process executable by the processor, the protection processes configured to:
• i) learn the one or more primary TE-LSPs extending from the head-end node to one or more address prefixes, ii) establish a repair TE-LSP for each of the one or more primary TE-LSPs to a corresponding downstream neighboring node of the head-end node (next-next-hop), iii) detect a failure of the head-end node, and, in response iv) locally reroute traffic destined for the one or more address prefixes via the head-end node to an appropriate repair TE-LSP.

A head-end node of one or more primary Traffic Engineering Label Switched Paths (TE-LSPs) in a computer network, the head-end node comprising:

• one or more network interfaces;
• a processor coupled to the one or more network interfaces and adapted to execute software processes;
• and
• a memory adapted to store a protection request process executable by the processor, the protection request processes configured to:
• i) request that one or more neighboring upstream nodes (protecting nodes) of the head-end node protect the head-end node against failure, and ii) inform the one or more protecting nodes of the one or more primary TE-LSPs and their respective state control block from the head-end node to one or more address prefixes.