Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to assisting forwarding of multicast traffic over Ethernet Virtual Private Network (EVPN) from a multicast source to a host multi-homed to multiple provider edge (PE) devices. Embodiments are based on the inclusion of an Ethernet Segment Identification (ESI) to EVPN type-6 routes advertised by PE devices which received a multicast Join message. Other PE devices receiving such routes are able to determine whether they belong to the ES identified by the ESI and to determine whether they are designated forwarders (DFs) for the host. Furthermore, PE devices which are the DFs are configured to re-originate the EVPN type-6 routes, i.e. re-send the advertisements, indicating themselves as DFs. This ensures that a remote PE device associated with the multicast source will also send multicast traffic to such DF PE devices, which, in turn, would allow the multicast traffic to successfully reach the host.

A method and system are disclosed for distributing (advertising) segment identifiers in network functions virtualization and/or software defined networking environments. An exemplary method includes receiving a route advertisement that includes a prefix with a forwarding address for a first network element and receiving a segment identifier (SID) advertisement that includes a prefix SID for the prefix. The route advertisement may be received from a second network element proxying control plane functions for the first network element. Reachability information for the first network element is updated based on the route advertisement and the SID advertisement.

An encapsulation address of a first switching device is set so as to be different only in a mask bit in comparison with that of a second switching device. A learning information control unit of a third switching device does not learn the correspondence relation between a source customer address and a source encapsulation address in a first case and a second case. The first case corresponds to a case in which an encapsulated frame is received at an upper-link port and an encapsulation address corresponding to the source customer address is acquired from an address table. The second case corresponds to a case in which a difference between the source encapsulation address and the encapsulation address acquired from the address table lies only in the mask bit.

A method of operation for a provider edge device of a core network includes receiving a customer frame from an access network; the customer frame having a first Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) tag of a first predetermined bit length. The first VLAN tag including a service instance identifier. The service instance identifier of the first VLAN tag is then mapped into a second VLAN tag of a second predetermined bit length greater than the first predetermined bit length. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).

Embodiments provide a service instance mapping method, apparatus and system. The service instance mapping method includes: correlating a layer-2 service instance with a service access port of the service instance, and determining correspondence between the service access port and a service instance identifier. The method also includes mapping the service instance identifier to a service label of a packet.

The present invention discloses a service instance mapping method, apparatus and system. The service instance mapping method includes: correlating a layer-2 service instance with a service access port of the service instance, and determining correspondence between the service access port and a service instance identifier; and mapping the service instance identifier to a service label of a packet. In embodiments of the present invention, because the service label is adopted to carry the service instance identifier, a higher service label supporting capability may be included, more service instances may be supported, and a multi-tenant requirement in a large-scale public cloud environment can be met; control protocol support is extended, and extension of a TRILL protocol can fulfill a higher service development capability.

The present invention relates to a protection switching method and system for a Multi-Rooted Point-to-Multi-point Service in a Provider Backbone Bridge (PBB) network. In one embodiment, this is accomplished by assigning at least one communication device as Root node, a plurality of intermediate nodes and Leaf nodes, receiving, on at least one of the edge nodes (i.e. Root or leaf), the data packets from a client network interfacing with the PBB network, configuring all the communication edge devices to create a MAC-in-MAC data packet from the received data packet, configuring the Root node to add ISID R and leaf nodes to add ISID L in the I-tag of MAC-in-MAC data packets, determining a fault, if integrity check messages are not received in a predetermined time period between the Root node and the Leaf Nodes and switching the traffic by changing the designated backbone destination MAC address of the MAC-in-MAC data packets from the present root node MAC address to other available superior root node MAC address; wherein switching is performed when integrity failure is detected, or upon network operator request.

Implementations generally relate to network services. In some implementations, a method includes providing a network service having a service mode and a service type. The method further includes generating a network service advertisement message including a service identifier, a service mode portion, and a service type portion. The method further includes-forwarding the network service advertisement message from a first system to one or more other systems via a network. The method further includes-incrementing a counter corresponding to a service mode and a service type pair of each network service advertisement message having a same service identifier. The method further includes, when the counter corresponding to a service mode and a service type pair reaches a predetermined value, blocking configuration of another service having the same service identifier value, service mode and service type as that corresponding to the counter that reached the predetermined value.

The present invention provides a method and system for preventing MAC address learning in Provider Backbone Bridge Network (PBBN). In one embodiment, this is accomplished by receiving data frames from at least one operator/client at the first PBB network which has to be communicating to the second PBB network, adding forward path learning information from the received data frames in the first PBB network and translating backbone MAC source address of the received data frame at the first PBB network by replacing the backbone MAC source address with a BEB backbone MAC address, thereby preventing of backbone MAC address learning of the first PBB network in the second PBB network.

A method, apparatus and computer program product for providing multi-homing techniques for SPB networks is presented. A set of UNI nodes that receive multicast packets are determined based on Backbone Media Access Control-Destination Address (BMAC-DA)/I-Tag Service Identifier (I-SID) of received multicast packets for multicast packets within a transport network. A separate Egress Port Mask is determined for each Backbone-Virtual Local Area Network (B-VLAN) of the transport network, wherein the Egress Port Mask is determined such that only one UNI node of the set of UNI nodes forwards said multicast packets. A set of UNI copies of said multicast packets are filtered out by applying the Egress Port Mask, wherein copies that are not in the Egress Port Mask are dropped. Copies of multicast packets that are not dropped are sent out.