Layered approach to virtual private routing
First Claim
1. A method of updating routing information related to a virtual private network in a communications network, comprising:
- exchanging routing information between a site included in a virtual private network and a customer equipment node interfacing the site with the communications network;
forwarding the routing information to a first provider equipment node coupled to the customer equipment node;
providing, by the first provider equipment node, the routing information to a provider equipment node maintaining a route reflector; and
distributing, by the provider equipment node maintaining the route reflector, the routing information to at least one provider equipment node coupled to a respective customer equipment node that interfaces with a site of the virtual private network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of updating routing information related to a virtual private network in a communications network is provided. Routing information is exchanged between a site included in a virtual private network and forwarded to a provider equipment node coupled to a customer equipment node. The routing information is provided to a provider equipment node maintaining a route reflector that distributes the routing information to one or more provider equipment nodes respectively coupled to a customer equipment node that interfaces with a site of the virtual private network.
A network operable to support at least one virtual private network having at least two sites and including a route reflector for distributing routing information updates to provider equipment nodes that include an external virtual private router supporting sites included in the virtual private network is provided. A node for the network is also provided.
78 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of updating routing information related to a virtual private network in a communications network, comprising:
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exchanging routing information between a site included in a virtual private network and a customer equipment node interfacing the site with the communications network;
forwarding the routing information to a first provider equipment node coupled to the customer equipment node;
providing, by the first provider equipment node, the routing information to a provider equipment node maintaining a route reflector; and
distributing, by the provider equipment node maintaining the route reflector, the routing information to at least one provider equipment node coupled to a respective customer equipment node that interfaces with a site of the virtual private network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A network operable to support at least one virtual private network having at least two sites, comprising:
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a plurality of sites included in a virtual private network;
a plurality of customer equipment nodes each coupled to one of the plurality of sites; and
a plurality of provider equipment nodes including a provider equipment node maintaining a route reflector, each customer equipment node coupled to one of the plurality of provider equipment nodes, each of the plurality of provider equipment nodes that is coupled to one of the plurality of customer equipment nodes respectively including a virtual private network forwarding information base assigned to the virtual private network that stores routing information of the virtual private network, each of the provider equipment nodes having one of the customer equipment nodes coupled thereto including an external virtual private router for processing routing updates related to the virtual private network. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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16. A node for a communications network, comprising:
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an interface for connection to a customer equipment node;
a virtual private network forwarding information base for storing routing information of a virtual private network supported by the network; and
an external virtual private router for processing routing information updates related to the virtual private network topology.
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Specification