Patent ID: 8867334
Filing Date: 2014-10-21
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: maintaining a list of border node next hop options in a memory of a network device, the list of border node next hop options including one or more border nodes that may be utilized to reach one or more prefixes; maintaining a list of virtual private network (VPN) labels in the memory of the network device, the list of VPN labels including one or more labels for paths; determining that one or more prefixes share the one or more border nodes from the list of border node next hop options; associating an index value with each shared border node; associating the index value of each shared border node of the list of border node next hop options with a corresponding VPN label of the list of VPN labels for a path to reach that border node; receiving traffic associated with a prefix of the one or more prefixes; determining, using the prefix, a particular border node for the traffic from the one or more shared border nodes; determining the index value based on the particular border node; applying the index value to select a VPN label from the list of VPN labels; applying the selected VPN label to the traffic; detecting a change to the one or more shared border nodes that may be utilized to reach the prefix; in response to the detecting, updating the list of border node next hop options to remove a border node from the list of border node next hop options, while maintaining a VPN label for the path to reach the border node in the list of VPN labels for at least a period of time; forwarding, by the network device, the traffic associated with the prefix by determining a second particular border node for the traffic from the one or more shared border nodes, determining a second index value associated with the second particular border node and applying the second index value to the list of VPN labels to determine a particular VPN label for the traffic.