Systems, apparatuses, and methods for rerouting network traffic

Abstract

A network element includes a processor that is configured to receive a request for performing an administratively-requested reroute (ARR) on a network. The ARR includes at least a first data plane operation on the network element and a second data plane operation on another network element. The network element is also configured to determine whether it is capable of performing the first data plane operation without interrupting network traffic on that network element. The network element is further configured to determine whether the other network element is capable of performing the second data plane operation without interrupting network traffic on that network element.

1 .- 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A network element comprising:
 a memory storing a program; and   a computer processor arranged to execute the program stored in the memory to perform a method comprising:
 providing, to at least one other node of a communication network, a request for performing an administratively-requested reroute (ARR), the request including (1) first information specifying that an ARR operation be performed on the network, and (2) second information specifying whether the ARR should be hitless; and 
 receiving, from the at least one other node, a notification indicating whether one or more nodes in the network can perform the ARR operation in a hitless manner. 
   
     
     
         28 . The network element of  claim 27 , wherein the method further comprises performing at least one of command result reporting or logging. 
     
     
         29 . The network element of  claim 27 , wherein the notification is included in a RSVP message. 
     
     
         30 . The network element of  claim 27 , wherein the method further comprises providing an indication of the notification to a network administrative terminal. 
     
     
         31 . The network element of  claim 27 , wherein the providing is performed upon a user request. 
     
     
         32 . The network element of  claim 27 , wherein the method further comprises requesting performance of a non-hitless ARR operation. 
     
     
         33 . The network element of  claim 27 , wherein the notification identifies which nodes of the communication network cannot perform the ARR operation in a hitless manner. 
     
     
         34 . The network element of  claim 27 , wherein the ARR operation includes a bridge-and-roll operation. 
     
     
         35 . The network element of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 a user interface configured to display information related to at least one of the request or the notification.   
     
     
         36 . A method comprising:
 providing, to at least one other node of a communication network, a request for performing an administratively-requested reroute (ARR), the request including (1) first information specifying that an ARR operation be performed on the network, and (2) second information specifying whether the ARR should be hitless; and   receiving, from the at least one other node, a notification indicating whether one or more nodes in the network can perform the ARR operation in a hitless manner.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the method further comprises performing at least one of command result reporting or logging. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the notification is included in a RSVP message. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the method further comprises providing an indication of the notification to a network administrative terminal. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the providing is performed in response to a user request. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the method further comprises requesting performance of a non-hitless ARR operation. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the notification identifies which nodes of the communication network cannot perform the ARR operation in a hitless manner. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the ARR operation includes a bridge-and-roll operation. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising displaying information related to at least one of the request or the notification. 
     
     
         46 . A computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by a computer processor, cause the computer processor to perform a method comprising:
 providing, to at least one other node of a communication network, a request for performing an administratively-requested reroute (ARR), the request including (1) first information specifying that an ARR operation be performed on the network, and (2) second information specifying whether the ARR should be hitless; and   receiving, from the at least one other node, a notification indicating whether one or more nodes in the network can perform the ARR operation in a hitless manner.