Patent ID: 8130644
Filing Date: 2012-03-06
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. In a system comprising a network and a border component situated at a border of the network, wherein the network is a loop-free, reverse-path-learning network, and wherein the network is divided into a plurality of virtual networks, a method performed by the border component, comprising: receiving a packet from an external component situated outside the border of the network, the packet comprising a destination address; determining a packet type for the packet; determining whether to perform a load balancing function for the packet by determining whether path selection is appropriate for the packet type; in response to a determination that path selection is not appropriate for the packet type, processing the packet in a manner that is appropriate for the packet type, wherein processing does not comprise selecting a path through the network for the packet; and in response to a determination that path selection is appropriate for the packet type: sending the updated packet into the network to be transported through the network along the particular path.