Patent ID: 8711855
Filing Date: 2014-04-29
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: by an aggregation node of a plurality of aggregation nodes of a network, executing a control plane protocol to discover neighboring ones of the aggregation nodes of the network; responsive to receiving flood messages and determining that the flood messages do not include a layer two address for the aggregation node, modifying the flood messages by updating an intermediate node list of each of the flood messages to include a layer two address of the aggregation node, wherein the intermediate node list of each of the flood messages specifies layer two addresses and interfaces for all nodes that the respective flood message traversed within the network; by the aggregation node, sending the modified flood messages to discovered local neighbor nodes toward a centralized controller network device to establish a Source Routed Tunnel (SRT) control channel between the aggregation node and the centralized controller network device; receiving, by the aggregation node, a message from the controller via the established SRT control channel, wherein the message specifies directed Forwarding Information Base (FIB) state pre-computed by the centralized controller network device for configuring a forwarding plane of the aggregation node; and responsive to receiving the message, and by the aggregation node, installing the directed FIB state received in the message, wherein the directed FIB state comprises one or more Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) labels for the aggregation node to use for sending packets on an Label Switched Path (LSP).