Border gateway protocol extended community attribute for layer-2 and layer-3 virtual private networks using 802.1ah-based tunnels
AssigneeNortel Networks Limited
InventorHamid Ould-Brahim
Life of this patent
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AssigneeNortel Networks Limited
InventorHamid Ould-Brahim
Estimating the term…
Described are a network, network device, and method for a method of distributing routing information for a virtual private network (VPN) application through a packet-switched network (PSN) having fully meshed provider edge (PE) routers through Provider Backbone Bridge (PBB) tunnels. Each PE router is configured to support at least one VPN and to run a BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) as an auto-discovery process for finding one or more other PE routers attached to the same VPN. A given VPN is associated with a PBB tunnel. A service instance identifier (I-SID), as defined in IEEE 802.1ah, is assigned to the VPN. Each PE router advertises membership in the VPN by including the I-SID assigned to the VPN in a BGP message issued during the auto-discovery process.
A method of distributing routing information for a virtual private network (VPN) application through a packet-switched network (PSN) having a plurality of provider edge (PE) routers that are fully meshed through Provider Backbone Bridge (PBB) tunnels, the method comprising:
A packet-switched network comprising a plurality of provider edge (PE) routers fully meshed by Provider Backbone Bridge (PBB) tunnels, each PE router being configured to support a virtual private network (VPN) and to run a Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) as an auto-discovery mechanism for finding one or more other PE routers in the same VPN, the VPN being associated with one of the PBB tunnels and having an assigned I-component service instance identifier (I-SID), each PE router advertising membership in the VPN by including the I-SID assigned to the VPN in a BGP message issued during the auto-discovery process.
A provider edge (PE) router configured to support a virtual private network (VPN) over a packet-switched network through an Provider Backbone Bridge (PBB) tunnel, the PE router comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.