Patent ID: 7969866

Claim:
A computer implemented method for reusing a hierarchical virtual private LAN service (HVPLS) spoke recovery mechanism in a multi-tenant unit (MTU), which is coupled by a first HVPLS spoke connection to a first plurality of HVPLS hub network elements which is designated as a primary connection point to the HVPLS hub for the MTU, to protect against failure of HVPLS hub connectivity of the first network element includes a corresponding hub connection with each of the other of the plurality of HVPLS hub network elements, said method comprising the first HVPLS hub network element performing the following: monitoring for a failure of the HVPLS hub connectivity of the first HVPLS hub network element provided through a plurality of HVPLS hub facing connectivity elements within the first HVPLS hub network element, wherein the plurality of HVPLS hub facing connectivity elements provide the HVPLS 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; and 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 the 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 the HVPLS hub network elements that is designated as a secondary connection point to the HVPLS hub for the MTU.