Patent ID: 8064338

Claim:
A method for a first one of a plurality of hierarchical virtual private LAN service (HVPLS) hub network elements to recover from a failure of HVPLS hub connectivity on behalf of at least some of a plurality of spoke network elements coupled with the first HVPLS hub network element, wherein the first HVPLS hub network element provides HVPLS hub connectivity to those spoke network elements, wherein the plurality of spoke network elements includes a first set of one or more spoke network elements including a multi-tenant unit (MTU) coupled with the first HVPLS hub network element by a first HVPLS spoke connection and a second set of one or more spoke network elements coupled with the first HVPLS hub network element, wherein the first HVPLS hub network element is also coupled with each of the other of the plurality of HVPLS hub network elements with a hub connection, the method comprising: monitoring for a failure of the HVPLS hub connectivity of the first HVPLS hub network element through a plurality of HVPLS hub facing connectivity elements of the first HVPLS hub network element, wherein the plurality of HVPLS hub facing connectivity elements provide hub connections to the others of the plurality of HVPLS hub network elements; detecting the failure of the HVPLS hub connectivity of the first HVPLS hub network element; fabricating a failure of the first HVPLS spoke connection by disabling within the first HVPLS hub network element one or more HVPLS spoke facing connectivity elements supporting the first HVPLS spoke connection, wherein a HVPLS spoke recovery mechanism in the MTU will react to the fabricated failure of the first HVPLS spoke connection by transitioning to a second HVPLS spoke connection that couples the MTU to a second of the plurality of HVPLS hub network elements that is designated as a secondary connection point to the HPVLS hub for the MTU; and the first HVPLS hub network element establishing a third HVPLS spoke connection to the MTU to restore HVPLS hub connectivity to the second set of spoke network elements coupled with the first HVPLS hub network element.