Patent ID: 7907603
Filing Date: 2011-03-15
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: preparing to send a first targeted hello message of a label distribution protocol at a first label switch router assigned a first transport address value, where the first label switch router is part of an LSR configuration, with the targeted hello message including a second transport address value of a targeted label switch router; comparing the first and second transport address values, using a processor at the first label switch router, when the first targeted hello message is sent and prior to the exchange of targeted hello messages between the first label switch router and the targeted label switch router to determine whether the first label switch router is an active or passive label switch router with regard to setting up a TCP connection between the first and targeted label switch routers, where the second transport address value compared is not advertised by the targeted label switch router but is derived at the first label switch router from the LSR configuration; and opening a TCP listening port at the first label switch router, if the first label switch router is the passive label switch router, when the targeted hello message is transmitted and prior to receiving a hello message from the targeted label switch router to allow the targeted label switch router to establish a TCP connection with the first label switch router before the first label switch router discovers the targeted label switch router to establish the TCP connection prior to the exchange of targeted hello messages between the first label switch router and the targeted label switch router.