The present invention relates to data switching networks, and, in particular, to link aggregation groups in Ethernet switching networks. A technique is described in which a large number of links in a link aggregation group can be managed.

A method, implemented in a node in a network, for a preemptible established backup path for a mesh restorable service includes, responsive to a new service request for the mesh restorable service with the preemptible established backup path, establishing a primary path designated as a current path for the mesh restorable service at a designated priority; establishing a backup path for the mesh restorable service at a lower priority than the designated priority, subject to bandwidth availability in the network; and responsive to a fault affecting the primary path, switching to the backup path and raising a priority of the backup path to the designated priority.

The present invention relates to computer implemented processes affected through a set of computer operations stored in a memory device and executed using a hardware processor. The embodiments disclosed herein comprise methods as well a computer hardware system comprising a hardware processor capable of executing the method steps. The computer operations facilitate processes for (1) automating the creation of encoders or decoders integral to a protocol wrapper within a wireless network configured to transmit and receive Diameter based protocol data; and (2) transmitting agnostic Diameter based protocol data in a wireless network.

A MCLAG table retains a first port in association with a first identifier. A port control unit controls a first port group to a transmission/reception permitted state when the first port group is set to active, and controls the first port group to a transmission/reception prohibited state when the first port group is set to standby. A relay processing unit relays a frame containing the first identifier as a destination port to the first port group when the first port group is controlled to the transmission/reception permitted state and relays the same to a bridge port when the first port group is controlled to the transmission/reception prohibited state. When the first port group is controlled to the transmission/reception prohibited state, a transmission stop instructing unit instructs a peer device to stop frame transmission to the first port group.

In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a first edge device that is operatively coupled to a second edge device via a switch fabric. The first edge device and the second edge device collectively define an edge device network operating with a network-address-based protocol. The first edge device communicates with the second edge device via a multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) tunnel through the switch fabric. Furthermore, the first edge device is operatively coupled to the switch fabric such that a node of the switch fabric can be modified without coordination of the edge device network. Additionally, the first edge device is operatively coupled to the second edge device to define the edge device network such that an edge device of the edge device network can be modified without coordination of the switch fabric.

Apparatus and method for routing packets in a computer network. A network switch for routing packets in a computer network includes a plurality of ports for communicative connection of computing devices to the switch, and routing logic. The routing logic is configured to extract, from a packet received via a first of the ports, a destination address that identifies a destination device to which the packet is directed; to extract from the destination address a switch ID value and a port ID value; to compare the switch ID value extracted from the destination address to a switch ID value identifying the network switch; and to transmit the packet via a second of the ports of the network switch corresponding to the port ID value based on the switch ID value extracted from the destination address being equal to the switch ID value identifying the network switch.

Some embodiments provide a method for implementing a logical router in a network. The method receives a definition of a logical router for implementation on a set of network elements. The method defines several routing components for the logical router. Each of the defined routing components includes a separate set of routes and separate set of logical interfaces. The method implements the several routing components in the network. In some embodiments, the several routing components include one distributed routing component and several centralized routing components.

A processing device includes an internal transmitter to receive packets and to forward those packets across a link to an external receiver external to the processing device. The internal transmitter is to receive a portion of a packet and to begin transmitting the portion across the link to the external receiver before the entire overall packet, of which the portion is a part, is received and validated. For a packet determined to have an error, the internal transmitter does not resend the overall packet across the link even if a message is received from the external receiver to resend the overall packet.

A datacenter is represented by a datacenter model including instances of data object instances that represent ports of endpoints, intermediate ports of network components, and cross-connects between ports. In response to receiving specification of a source and destination endpoint, a computer system identifies a path through the data center according to the datacenter model. The path may be identified from among a plurality of candidate paths through the datacenter according to one or more criteria such as speed, capacity, quality, and path length. The path may be output to an operator for implementation and may then be tested. Cross-connects added according to the path may then be added to the datacenter model.

Various embodiments are described wherein a set of devices are configured to be a logical mesh network. Each device has a logical mesh network address. Further, the set of logical mesh network addresses form a sequence from a first address to a last address, and intermediate addresses having both a preceding and a next address. The devices store forwarding information used to determine how to forward a received logical mesh network packet. Other embodiments are described and claimed.