Patent ID: 7787449

Claim:
A method comprising: generating a first set of one or more labels, wherein the first set of one or more labels identifies a first path in a butterfly network, the first path couples a first switch and a second switch, the first path comprises a first group of one or more switches, the butterfly network comprises the first group of one or more switches, and each of the first set of one of more labels identifies at least one switch within the first group of one or more switches; generating a second set of one or more labels, wherein the second set of one or more labels identifies a second path in the butterfly network, the second path couples the first switch and a third switch, the second path comprises a second group of one or more switches, the first path and the second path are node disjoint with respect to one another, the butterfly network comprises the second group of one or more switches, and each of the second set of one of more labels identifies at least one switch within the second group of one or more switches; selecting a first label from the first set of one or more labels; identifying a fourth switch using the first label; setting the fourth switch; selecting a second label from the second set of one or more labels; identifying a fifth switch using the second label; setting the fifth switch; communicating traffic between the first switch and the second switch via the first path; and communicating the traffic between the first switch and the third switch via the second path.