Importance

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Abstract

A proxy MPOA client in a VLAN that is otherwise populated by legacy LECs such that the MPOA services for these LECs are provided centrally by the proxy MPC. A standard MPC enabled edge device is adapted to provide MPC services to legacy LECs that are not MPOA aware. Such an edge device provides MPOA services to legacy LECs located in other edge devices connected to the ATM cloud. The proxy MPC is configured to have at least two LECs: one residing on a legacy ELAN and another residing on an MPOA ELAN. Traffic from the legacy LEC arriving from the legacy ELAN is forwarded to an Ethernet port that is looped back to a second Ethernet port on the proxy MPC edge device. Upon ingress at the second Ethernet port, the traffic is treated as if it arrived from a regular port and provided with MPC services. The loopback may be implemented either internally or externally via one or more cables. In addition, an internal bridge is configured to steer the Ethernet traffic to the first Ethernet port for loopback to the second Ethernet port. Upon initial flow detection, the proxy MPC establishes a shortcut utilizing the MPOA Server (MPS). Once the shortcut is established, traffic is forwarded from the LEC on the MPOA side in the proxy MPC to the destination via the shortcut.

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First Claim