Dynamic establishment of virtual circuits using multi-segment pseudowires

A network edge device comprising:

• a first communication network interface adapted to support packet communications via attachment circuits;
• a second communication network interface adapted to support packet communications via pseudowire segments in a core network;
• and
• a control system associated with the first and second communication network interfaces and adapted to:
• receive via a hop a first setup message comprising a source address associated with a remote edge device and destination information associated with the network edge device, the first setup message originating from the remote edge device to establish a virtual circuit between the network edge device and the remote edge device;
• determine the first setup message is intended for the network edge device based on the destination information;
• and
• associate a first pseudowire segment associated with the hop and a local attachment circuit, such that packets arriving over the local attachment circuit are forwarded over the first pseudowire segment to facilitate part of the virtual circuit.

A core device comprising:

• a communication network interface adapted to support packet communications via pseudowire segments in a core network;
• and
• a control system associated with the communication network interface and adapted to:
• receive via a prior hop a first setup message comprising a source address associated with an originating edge device and destination information associated with a destination edge device, the first setup message originating from the originating edge device to establish a virtual circuit between the originating edge device and the destination edge device;
• identify a next hop toward the destination edge device based on the destination information;
• send the first setup message over the next hop to facilitate automatic establishment of the virtual circuit;
• and
• wherein the next hop is associated with a subsequent pseudowire segment and the prior hop is associated with a prior pseudowire segment, and the control system is further adapted to associate the subsequent pseudowire segment with the prior pseudowire segment such that packets arriving over the subsequent pseudowire segment are forwarded over the prior pseudowire segment to facilitate part of the virtual circuit.

A method for dynamically establishing a virtual circuit through a core network between a first edge device and a second edge device comprising:

• provisioning the first edge device with destination information for the second edge device;
• and
• at the first edge device:
• identifying a next hop toward the second edge device based on the destination information;
• creating a setup message comprising a source address associated with the first edge device and the destination information;
• sending the setup message over the next hop to initiate automatic establishment of the virtual circuit;
• and
• wherein the next hop is associated with a first pseudowire segment between the first edge device and the next hop, and the first edge device supports a first attachment circuit, the method further comprising:
• at the first edge device, associating the first pseudowire segment with the first attachment circuit such that packets arriving over the first pseudowire segment are forwarded over the first attachment circuit to facilitate part of the virtual circuit.