Distributed rsvp-te in a multi-chassis node architecture

A network device, comprising:

• a first chassis, where the first chassis includes a first reservation resource protocol (RSVP) stack associated with network traffic, and
• a second chassis, where the second chassis includes a second RSVP stack associated with network traffic, where:
• the first chassis further includes:
• a proxy module, where the proxy module is to:
• receive all RSVP messages from another network device that are bound to the first RSVP stack or bound to the second RSVP stack;
• and
• transmit all RSVP messages to the other network device from the first RSVP stack and from the second RSVP stack,
• the second chassis further includes:
• a second message handler, where the second message handler is to:
• encapsulate each RSVP message to be transmitted via the proxy module, with an additional header that includes a field that specifies one of to forward the RSVP message, to process the RSVP message, or to reroute the RSVP message, and
• where the proxy module is further to:
• de-encapsulate the additional header from each RSVP message received from the second message handler.

A method performed by a network device, comprising:

• receiving a first resource reservation protocol (RSVP) message by a first chassis having a first RSVP stack;
• determining, by the first chassis, whether the first RSVP message is a node-oriented RSVP message or an interface-oriented RSVP message;
• encapsulating, by the first chassis, the first RSVP message with an additional header, when it is determined that the first RSVP message is the interface-oriented RSVP message;
• forwarding, by the first chassis, the encapsulated first RSVP message to a second chassis having a second RSVP stack;
• and
• processing, by the first chassis, the first RSVP message, when it is determined that the first RSVP message is the node-oriented RSVP message.

A device, comprising:

• multiple chassis to provide routing or switching services, the multiple chassis including an administrative chassis and one or more shelf chassis, each chassis of the multiple chassis comprising:
• a resource reservation protocol (RSVP) stack to provide resource reservation services to network links handled by the chassis;
• and
• a unique network address, and
• where the administrative chassis is to:
• receive and transmit node-oriented RSVP messages from and to other devices;
• and
• where the one or more shelf chassis are to:
• receive and transmit interface-oriented RSVP messages from and to other devices.