Multi-protocol label switching virtual private networks

• US 7,039,687 B1
• Filed: 08/07/1998
• Issued: 05/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Jamieson, Dwight D., Wright, Gregory V., Beaubien, Paul J., Jamoussi, Bilel N.
• Primary Examiner(s): DINH, DUNG C
• Application Number:
  US09/131,051
• Time in Patent Office: 2,825 Days
• Field of Search: 709220-222, 709/218, 709/227, 370/401, 370/404, 370/403, 370/402, 370/392, 370/400
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4675 Dynamic sharing of VLAN information amongst network nodes configuration of the network or of network elements H04L41/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/04 Interdomain routing, e.g. hierarchical routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/50 using label swapping, e.g. multi-protocol label switch [MPLS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks

Abstract

A virtual private network enables private communications over a shared MPLS network between two or more private networks. The virtual private networks include a first router connected to the shared MPLS network and configured to dynamically distribute first router VPN information across the shared MPLS network. The first router VPN information includes a VPN identifier which is assigned to the first router. The VPN also includes a second router connected to the shared MPLS network and and configured to dynamically distribute second router VPN information across the shared MPLS network. The second router VPN information includes a VPN identifier which is assigned to the second router and which is identical to the VPN identifier assigned to the first router. The first and second routers are also configured to establish label switched paths therebetween. A method of automatically configuring virtual private networks over a shared MPLS network includes creating a link between a private network router and a shared network router. It also includes assigning a VPN identifier to the shared network router, assigning the same VPN identifier to at least one other shared network router, determining all shared network routers which are assigned the same VPN identifier, and creating at least two label switched paths between the shared network router and the other shared network routers.

Claims

1. A virtual private network which enables private communications, over a shared Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) network, between at least two private networks comprising:

a first router coupled to the shared MPLS network and configured to dynamically distribute first router Virtual Private Networks (VPN) information across the shared MPLS network, wherein said first router VPN information includes a VPN identifier and a unique IP address which is assigned to said first router;

a second router coupled to the shared MPLS network and configured to dynamically distribute second router VPN information across the shared MPLS network;

wherein said second router VPN information includes a VPN identifier and another unique IP address which is assigned to said second router;

wherein said first and second routers are also configured to establish a plurality of label switched paths therebetween, said label switched paths comprising at least two multipoint-to-point paths and further comprising at least one multi-point to multi-point path; and

,

wherein said VPN identifier assigned to said first router is the same as said VPN identifier assigned to said second router.

2. The virtual private network according to claim 1 further comprising:

a first private network adaptation device selectively coupleable to said first router; and

,

a second private network adaptation device selectively coupleable to said second router;

wherein when said first private network adaptation device is coupled to said first router, and said second private network adaptation device is coupled to said second router said first private network adaptation device may communicate with said second private network adaptation device.

3. The virtual private network according to claim 2 wherein:

said first router includes said first private adaptation device; and

,

said second router includes said second private adaptation device.

4. The virtual private network according to claim 2 further comprising at least one core label switched router coupled between said first and second routers and configured to transport communications between said first and second routers.

5. A virtual private network according to claim 1 wherein said first router is configured to employ label stacking to establish at least one of said label switched paths.

6. A virtual private network according to claim 5 wherein said second router is configured to employ label stacking to establish at least one of said label switched paths.

7. A virtual private network according to claim 1 wherein said first router is configured to employ a best hop protocol to establish at least one of said label switched paths.

8. A virtual private network according to claim 7 wherein said second router is configured to employ a best hop protocol to establish at least one of said label switched paths.

9. A virtual private network which enables private communication, over a shared Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) network, between at least two actual networks comprising:

first router means coupled to the shared MPLS network for dynamically distributing first router means Virtual Private Networks (VPN) information across the shared MPLS network, wherein said first router means VPN information includes a VPN identifier and a unique IP address which is assigned to said first router means;

a second router means coupled to the shared MPLS network for dynamically distributing second router means VPN information across the shared MPLS network;

wherein said second router means VPN information includes a VPN identifier and another unique IP address which is assigned to said second router;

wherein said first and second router means are also configured to establish a plurality of label switched paths therebetween, said label switched paths comprising at least two multipoint-to-point paths and further comprising at least one multi-point to multi-point path; and

,

wherein said VPN identifier assigned to said first router is the same as said VPN identifier assigned to said second router.

10. The virtual private network according to claim 9 further comprising:

first private router means, selectively coupleable to said first router means, for routing communications to a node on a private network attached thereto; and

,

second private router means, selectively coupleable to said second router means, for routing communications to a node on a private network attached thereto;

wherein when said first private router means is coupled to said first router, and said second private router means is coupled to said second router said first private router means may communicate with said second private router means.

11. The virtual private network according to claim 10, wherein:

said first router means includes said first private router means; and

,

said second router means includes said second private router means.

12. The virtual private network according to claim 10 further comprising at least one core label switched router coupled between said first and second router means and configured to transport communications between said first and second router means.

13. A method of automatically configuring virtual private networks over a shared Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) network comprising:

creating a link between a private network router and a shared network router, assigning a Virtual Private Networks (VPN) identifier and a unique IP address to said shared network router;

assigning said VPN identifier and another unique IP address to at least one other shared network router; and

creating at least two label switched paths between said shared network router and said at least one other shared network router, said label switched paths comprising at least two multipoint-to-point paths and further comprising at least one multi-point to multi-point path.

14. The method of configuring virtual private networks according to claim 13 wherein:

said at least one other shared network router includes a plurality of shared network routers; and

said creating at least two label switched paths includes creating at least two unidirectional point-to-point label switched paths between said shared network routers.

15. The method of configuring virtual private networks according to claim 14 wherein:

said creating at least two label switched paths further includes creating at least one bi-directional multi-point-to-multi-point label switched path between said shared network routers.

16. The method of configuring virtual private networks according to claim 14 wherein said creating at least two unidirectional point-to-point label switched paths is done using a next best hop route.