Patent attributes
Techniques are described for establishing network tunnels that allow communication according to one or more routing protocols. The techniques allow for the automated configuration of a selector or other filter associated with the network tunnel. A network device, for example, includes a control unit, and an interface for coupling the network device to a computer network. The control unit receives a communication to establish a network tunnel with a remote network device. The communication includes information that specifies a routing protocol supported by the remote network device. The control unit automatically configures the network tunnel to permit communication through the network tunnel in accordance with the specified routing protocol. The control unit may receive the communication in accordance with a conventional network protocol, such as the Internet Key Exchange protocol. The information may be conveyed using a data field redefined to specify the supported routing protocol.
