Processing two-octet and four-octet values using border gateway protocol

摘要

A method of processing both two-octet and four-octet autonomous system (AS) identifier values in a first network node that communicates with peer network nodes using Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), comprises receiving a first route message from a BGP peer node that is outside a local autonomous system that includes the first network node, wherein the BGP peer node can process only two-octet AS identifier values; identifying one or more extended community attributes in a route in the received route update message; for each of the identified extended community attributes, modifying the received route by creating an AS set containing four-octet AS identifier values carried in the identified extended community attributes, and attaching the AS set to the received route; and sending the modified received route to a third BGP node.