Scalable multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) based networks

An area border router comprising:

• a memory having instructions stored thereon;
• and
• a processor to execute the instructions to perform operations comprising:
• determining an open shortest path first metric representing a cost associated with transporting, within a non-zero open shortest path first area of a hierarchical open shortest path first network, data between a provider edge router and the area border router, the hierarchical open shortest path first network including the non-zero open shortest path first area and an open shortest path first area zero;
• blocking a packet used to determine the open shortest path first metric from being distributed in the open shortest path first area zero of the hierarchical open shortest path first network;
• and
• modifying a border gateway protocol message received from the provider edge router by:
• replacing a first multiprotocol label switching label included in the border gateway protocol message with a second multiprotocol label switching label associated with the provider edge router and assigned by the area border router;
• replacing a next-hop attribute included in the border gateway protocol message with a value representing a loopback address of the area border router;
• and
• updating a route cost attribute included in the border gateway protocol message to include the open shortest path first metric;
• and
• advertising the border gateway protocol message into the open shortest path first area zero.

A tangible machine-readable storage medium comprising machine-readable instructions that, when executed, cause a machine implementing an area border router to perform operations comprising:

• determining an open shortest path first metric representing a cost associated with transporting, within a non-zero open shortest path first area of a hierarchical open shortest path first network, data between a provider edge router and the area border router, the hierarchical open shortest path first network including the non-zero open shortest path first area and an open shortest path first area zero;
• blocking a packet used to determine the open shortest path first metric from being distributed in the open shortest path first area zero;
• replacing a first multiprotocol label switching label included in a border gateway protocol message received from the provider edge router with a second multiprotocol label switching label associated with the provider edge router and assigned by the area border router;
• replacing a next-hop attribute included in the border gateway protocol message with a value representing a loopback address of the area border router;
• updating at the area border router a route cost attribute included in the border gateway protocol message to include the open shortest path first metric;
• and
• advertising border gateway protocol message into the open shortest path first area zero of the hierarchical open shortest path first network.