A method is provided in one example and includes assigning a virtual switch identifier to a group of a plurality of switches in which each of the plurality of switches is configured with a redundancy protocol. The method further includes configuring a redundancy protocol priority value for each the plurality of switches, and generating at least one link-state routing protocol message including priority information indicative of the redundancy protocol priority value associated with one or more of the plurality of switches. The method further includes distributing the at least one link-state routing protocol message to one or more of the plurality of switches.

In a load sharing method and a router device, each of the router devices in a load sharing relationship obtains load sharing information of all downstream router devices that are in a load sharing relationship with the router device, and when determining load sharing information of the router device, the router device determines the load sharing information of the router device according to the load sharing information of all the downstream router devices that are in a load sharing relationship with the router device, so that a disturbance factor of the router device is different from disturbance factors of all the downstream router devices that are in a load sharing relationship with the router device. Therefore, a coupling degree of load sharing information of all the router devices in a load sharing relationship in the network is reduced, and load sharing at all levels is even.

Efficient and highly-scalable network solutions are provided that each utilize deployment units based on Clos networks, but in an environment such as a data center of Internet Protocol-based network. Each of the deployment units can include multiple stages of devices, where connections between devices are only made between stages and the deployment units are highly connected. In some embodiments, the level of connectivity between two stages can be reduced, providing available connections to add edge switches and additional host connections while keeping the same number of between-tier connections. In some embodiments, where deployment units (or other network groups) can be used at different levels to connect other deployment units, the edges of the deployment units can be fused to reduce the number of devices per host connection.

Configuration of tunnel, firewall and/or other positional based functionality for routers operating within a multi-router network is contemplated. The functionality configured for one or more of the routers may be implemented automatically without manual input or identification, such as to facilitate an off-the-shelf implementation process where positioning and attendant functionality is routinely implemented according to a predefined set of roles.

A sticky order routing system may include multiple order routers in communication with an electronic exchange for communicating transaction messages. Each of the order routers communicates transaction messages between multiple associated trading sessions and the electronic exchange, where of the associated trading sessions is assigned to the order router in communication with the electronic exchange. Transaction message traffic between the order routers and the electronic exchange is monitored, such as randomly, based on round-robin assignment, and/or trading data. In response to transaction message traffic exceeding a threshold, the trading session may be assigned to a new order router.

Systems, methods, and devices for offloading best path computations in a networked computing environment. A method includes storing in memory, by a best path controller, a listing of a plurality of paths learnt by a device, wherein each of the plurality of paths is a route for transmitting data from the device to a destination device. The method includes receiving, by the best path controller, a message from the device. The method includes processing, by the best path controller, a best path computation to identify one or more best paths based on the message such that processing of the best path computation is offloaded from the device to the best path controller. The method includes sending the one or more best paths to the device.

This application provides a network fault locating method and apparatus in an IP network. In this solution, a router automatically reports status information, and a controller determines, based on the status information, whether a communication path is faulty. If a fault exists, the controller may indicate a router on the communication path to perform fault locating. The fault locating can be completed without waiting for manual intervention, so that operation and maintenance efficiency in the IP network is improved. After completing the fault locating, the router reports location information of a fault point to the controller, and the controller may perform troubleshooting at the fault point, so that the fault can be quickly rectified.

A method and apparatus form and/or define a network topology in a Layer 3 network with a plurality of nodes, where each node has at least one interface. To that end, the method defines a plurality of neighborhoods, and assigns at least one interface of each node to at least one of the neighborhoods. The method also assigns a communication role to each interface so that each communication role is effective relative to one of the plurality of neighborhoods. The method then enables communication between the interfaces of the plurality of nodes as a function of the neighborhoods and the communication roles.

A method for processing state information updates. The method includes receiving, by a coordination point, a plurality of state information from a plurality of network elements; processing at least one of the plurality of state information to generate a result; and applying the result to at least one of the plurality of network elements in order to modify an operation of the at least one of the plurality of network elements.

A sticky order routing system may include multiple order routers in communication with an electronic exchange for communicating transaction messages. Each of the order routers communicates transaction messages between multiple associated trading sessions and the electronic exchange, where of the associated trading sessions is assigned to the order router in communication with the electronic exchange. Transaction message traffic between the order routers and the electronic exchange is monitored, such as randomly, based on round-robin assignment, and/or trading data. In response to transaction message traffic exceeding a threshold, the trading session may be assigned to a new order router.