Apparatus and method for layer-2 and layer-3 vpn discovery

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for layer-2 and layer-3 VPN discovery are disclosed. The apparatus is incorporated in a network, and the network includes a first carrier network. The first carrier network includes at least two layer-1 provider edge devices. Layer-1 VPN information is created within the first carrier network. BGP next hop information passes within the first carrier network. The BGP next hop information is for a selected one of the following: a layer-2 VPN-based provider edge device, a layer-3 VPN-based provider edge device, and a layer-2 and layer-3 VPN-based provider edge device. The network also includes a second carrier network within which the BGP next hop information is used for VPN discovery.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A layer-1 Virtual Private Network (VPN) provider edge device for a layer-1 VPN network, the layer-1 VPN provider edge device being configured:
 to receive Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) next hop information from a higher-layer customer network, the BGP next hop information comprising BGP next hop information for at least one of:
 a layer-2 VPN based provider edge device; 
 a layer-3 VPN based provider edge device; and 
 a layer-2 and layer-3 VPN based provider edge device; and 
   to distribute the BGP next hop information to at least one other layer-1 VPN provider edge devices over the layer-1 VPN provider network to enable the higher-layer customer network to use the BGP next hop information for VPN discovery.   
     
     
         2 . The layer-1 VPN provider edge device of  claim 1 , configured to distribute the BGP next hop information with layer-1 VPN information. 
     
     
         3 . The layer-1 VPN provider edge device of  claim 2 , configured to generate the layer-1 VPN information. 
     
     
         4 . The layer-1 VPN provider edge device of  claim 1 , configured to implement a VPN auto-discovery mechanism. 
     
     
         5 . The layer-1 VPN provider edge device of  claim 1 , wherein the layer-1 VPN provider edge device is Generalized VPN (GVPN) based. 
     
     
         6 . The layer-1 VPN provider edge device of  claim 3 , configured to receive the BGP next hop information as normal GVPN port information. 
     
     
         7 . A higher-layer provider edge device for a higher layer carrier network, the higher-layer provider edge device being one of:
 a layer-2 Virtual Private Network (VPN) based provider edge device;   a layer-3 VPN based provider edge device; and   a layer-2 and layer-3 based provider edge device;   and being configured:
 to advertise a (Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) next hop via a layer-1 VPN provider network connected between the at least two higher-layer provider edge devices; and 
 to pass BGP next hop information to another of the at least two higher-layer edge devices via the layer-1 VPN provider network. 
   
     
     
         8 . The higher-layer provider edge device of  claim 7 , configured to pass the BGP next hop information via the layer-1 carrier network as normal Generalized VPN (GVPN) port information. 
     
     
         9 . The higher-layer carrier network of  claim 8 , wherein the higher-layer carrier network is configured to couple at least one customer VPN to the layer-1 carrier network. 
     
     
         10 . A higher-layer provider edge device for a higher layer carrier network, the higher-layer provider edge device being one of:
 a layer-2 Virtual Private Network (VPN) based provider edge device;   a layer-3 VPN based provider edge device; and   a layer-2 and layer-3 based provider edge device;   and being configured to use Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) next hop information for VPN discovery.