Service aware label address resolution protocol switched path instantiation

A provider edge device comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a computer-readable storage medium having stored therein instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
• receive from a first client, a request to communicate with a second client, the request including a destination and one or more attributes;
• determine a label based on the destination and the one or more attributes, the label corresponding to a pre-existing tunnel;
• and
• transmit a reply to the first client, including the destination, the one or more attributes, and the label.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored therein instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

• receive from a first client, a request to communicate with a second client, the request including a destination and one or more attributes;
• determine a label based on the destination and the one or more attributes, the label corresponding to a pre-existing tunnel;
• and
• transmit a reply to the first client, including the destination, the one or more attributes, and the label.