Techniques for decreasing multiprotocol label switching entropy label overhead

One or more non-transitory tangible media having encoded thereon logic that includes code for execution and when executed by a processor is operable to perform operations comprising:

• receiving at a network element an encapsulated packet;
• determining whether both an ECMP/LAG Existing (“ele”) flag and an Entropy Label Capability (“elc”) flag are set for an egress node of the packet in a Label Distribution Protocol (“LDP”) database of the network element;
• if both the ele and elc flags are set for the egress node of the packet in the LDP database, determining whether the network element is an ingress node for the packet;
• and
• if the network element is the ingress node for the packet, pushing an Entropy Label (“EL”) and an Entropy Label Indicator (“ELI”) onto an MPLS stack of the packet.

An apparatus comprising:

• a memory element configured to store data;
• a processor operable to execute instructions associated with the data;
• and
• an Entropy Label (“EL”) module configured to:
• receive at a network element an encapsulated packet;
• determine whether both an ECMP/LAG Existing (“ele”) flag and an Entropy Label Capability (“elc”) flag are set for an egress node of the packet in a Label Distribution Protocol (“LDP”) database of the network element;
• if both the ele and elc flags are set for the egress node of the packet in the LDP database, determine whether the network element is an ingress node for the packet;
• and
• if the network element is the ingress node for the packet, push an EL and an Entropy Label Indicator (“ELI”) onto an MPLS stack of the packet.