System and method for implementing multiple label distribution protocol (LDP) instances in a network node

A method for hosting multiple Label Distribution Protocol (LDP) Label Switch Router (LSR) instances sharing a common label space at a network element, comprising:ninstantiating within a memory at the network element a plurality of LSR instances, each LSR instance having associated with it a respective LSR Identifier (LSR ID) and a common label space identifier (label space ID); andmapping each LSR ID to a respective IP address at the network element;wherein each LSR instance is adapted to support a respective LDP session with a LSR at a peer network element;wherein said network element advertises a multiple LSR hosting capability to other peer network elements.

A telecom network element, for hosting multiple Label Distribution Protocol (LDP) Label Switch Router (LSR) instances sharing a common data plane at a network element, comprising a processor configured for:ninstantiating within a memory at the network element a plurality of LSR instances, each LSR instance having associated with it a respective LSR Identifier (LSR ID); andmapping each LSR ID to a respective IP address from a pool of IP addresses associated with the common data plane at the network element;wherein each LSR instance is adapted to support a respective LDP session with a LSR at a peer network element;wherein said network element advertises a multiple LSR hosting capability to other peer network elements.

A tangible and non-transient computer readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by a computer, adapt the operation of the computer to provide a method for hosting multiple Label Distribution Protocol (LDP) Label Switch Router (LSR) instances sharing a common data plane at a network element, the method comprising:ninstantiating within a memory at the network element a plurality of LSR instances, each LSR instance having associated with it a respective LSR Identifier (LSR ID); andmapping each LSR ID to a respective IP address from a pool of IP addresses associated with the common data plane at the network element;wherein each LSR instance is adapted to support a respective LDP session with a LSR at a peer network element;wherein said network element advertises a multiple LSR hosting capability to other peer network elements.

A computer program product storing computer instructions which, when executed by a processor in a telecom network element, adapt the operation of the telecom network element to provide a method for hosting multiple Label Distribution Protocol (LDP) Label Switch Router (LSR) instances sharing a common data plane at a network element, the method comprising:ninstantiating within a memory at the network element a plurality of LSR instances, each LSR instance having associated with it a respective LSR Identifier (LSR ID); andmapping each LSR ID to a respective IP address from a pool of IP addresses associated with the common data plane at the network element;wherein each LSR instance is adapted to support a respective LDP session with a LSR at a peer network element;wherein said network element advertises a multiple LSR hosting capability to other peer network elements.

A method for hosting multiple Label Distribution Protocol (LDP) Label Switch Router (LSR) instances sharing a common label space at a network element, comprising:ninstantiating within a memory at the network element a plurality of LSR instances, each LSR instance having associated with it a respective LSR Identifier (LSR ID) and a common label space identifier (label space ID); andmapping each LSR ID to a respective IP address at the network element;wherein each LSR instance is adapted to support a respective LDP session with a LSR at a peer network element; andadvertising a multiple LSR hosting capability via a LDP Node-ID TLV that uniquely identifies the network elementwherein said network element advertises a multiple LSR hosting capability to other peer network elements.