Embodiments of this application describe an in-situ flow detection-based packet processing method. After receiving a first packet encapsulated by using a first bearer protocol, a first node may obtain, based on the first packet, a second packet encapsulated by using a second bearer protocol. A first packet header of the first packet includes first in-situ flow detection information, and a packet header of the second packet also includes the first in-situ flow detection information. It can be learned that, when re-encapsulating the first packet by using the second bearer protocol, the first node does not remove the first in-situ flow detection information, but adds the first in-situ flow detection information to the packet encapsulated by using the second bearer protocol. Therefore, even if the first bearer protocol and the second bearer protocol are deployed in a detection domain, the first in-situ flow detection information is not removed due to re-encapsulation of the packet, and may be transmitted across the entire detection domain.

A method for establishing a segment routing (SR) tunnel based on an Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) data plane using a Path Computation Element Communication Protocol (PCEP) includes generating, by a path computation element (PCE), a first PCEP message, wherein the first PCEP message comprises indicating information and segment identifier (SID), and wherein the indicating information indicates that the SID is an IPv6 prefix of a node in a tunnel; receiving, by a first path computation client (PCC), the first PCEP message from the PCE; and establishing, by the first PCC, a Segment Routing over IPv6 (SRv6) tunnel from the first PCC to a second PCC.

Techniques for using computer networking protocol extensions to route control-plane traffic and data-plane traffic associated with a common application are described herein. For instance, a traffic flow associated with an application may be established such that control-plane traffic is sent to a control-plane node associated with the application and data-plane traffic is sent to a data-plane node associated with the application. When a client device sends an authentication request to connect to the application, the control-plane node may send an indication of a hostname to be used by the client device to send data-plane traffic to the data-node. As such, when a packet including the hostname corresponding with the data-plane node is received, the packet may be forwarded to the data-plane node.

In one embodiment, a device clusters traffic characteristics of traffic associated with a plurality of online applications into one or more clusters. The device determines representative traffic characteristics for a particular cluster in the one or more clusters. The device generates, based on the representative traffic characteristics, a probing strategy for the plurality of online applications associated with the particular cluster. The device causes path probes to be sent along one or more network paths in accordance with the probing strategy

An MEP sends a traffic steering rule of an APP to a UPF network element, where the APP is installed on the MEP, and the traffic steering rule of the APP includes an IP address and/or a port number corresponding to the APP, and a steering action corresponding to the IP address and/or the port number; and the MEP receives service data that is steered by the UPF network element to the APP based on the traffic steering rule of the APP. The steered service data is processed by the APP.

A method and apparatus for path computation includes generating a path computation element communication protocol (PCEP) message, whereby the PCEP message comprises a characteristic associated with a level of protection of a Protection Label Switch path (LSP) with a Working LSP; and transmitting the PCEP message for path computation.

A reception unit (210) receives an addition requesting frame for requesting addition of a new flow. A first search unit (241) performs, using a network-information database (280), a first search for searching for a schedule and a path assignable to the new flow without the schedule and the path of each existing flow being changed, when the addition requesting frame is received. A second search unit (242) performs a second search for changing the schedule and the path of each existing flow and searching for the schedule and the path assignable to the new flow, using the network-information database, when the schedule and the path assignable to the new flow have not been found by the first search. A response unit (260) transmits an addition responding frame.

A network device has an input configured to receive a message relating to a given user attempting to forward one or more packets across a computer network. The message has given user information relating to the given user. In addition, the routing device also has a selector, operatively coupled with the input, configured to select (after receiving the message) a given group routing policy from a plurality of group routing policies. Preferably, the selector is configured to select the given group routing policy as a function of the given user information. The routing device also has an output operatively coupled with the selector. The output is configured to cause routing of user communication across the network using link-layer routes specified by the given group routing policy.

Systems and methods implemented in a network element in a Segment Routing network include, for a service having two or more candidate paths and responsive to a failure on a current candidate path of the two or more candidate paths, setting an eligibility flag for the current candidate path; and selecting another candidate path of the two or more candidate paths, for the service, based on their eligibility flag.

Systems and methods implemented in a network element in a Segment Routing network include, for a service having two or more candidate paths and responsive to a failure on a current candidate path of the two or more candidate paths, setting an eligibility flag for the current candidate path; and selecting another candidate path of the two or more candidate paths, for the service, based on their eligibility flag.