Re-convergence of protocol independent multicast assert states

1. A router comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

participate in a Protocol Independent Multicast (“PIM”) assert election among a plurality of routers and store PIM assert state information based on an outcome of the PIM assert election;

acquire routing information base (“RIB”) convergence following a convergence-loss event at the router;

trigger, or cause another router to trigger, a PIM assert among the plurality of routers by forwarding a PIM message among the plurality of routers;

re-converge with PIM assert states among the plurality of routers and store converged PIM assert state information;

participate in a second PIM assert election among the plurality of routers; and

store PIM assert state information based on an outcome of the second PIM assert election;

wherein a Generation ID (“GenID”) of the router changes after the one more processors acquire RIB convergence.

2. The router of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to store PIM assert state information based on the outcome of the router being elected as a PIM assert winner in the PIM assert election.

3. The router of claim 1 , wherein the instructions cause the PIM assert to be triggered before or after RIB convergence is acquired.

4. The router of claim 1 , wherein a GenID of the router remains the same after the one or more processors acquire RIB convergence, and triggering the PIM assert comprises sending a PIM hello message including an assert state request option to the plurality of routers.

5. The router of claim 4 , wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to receive a join message including a PIM assert re-trigger option, and re-converging with PIM assert states comprises sending a PIM assert message to the plurality of routers.

6. A method comprising:

participating, by a router, in a Protocol Independent Multicast (“PIM”) assert election among a plurality of routers and storing, by the router, PIM assert state information based on an outcome of the PIM assert election;

acquiring, by the router, routing information base (“RIB”) convergence following a convergence-loss event at the router;

triggering by the router, or causing, by the router, another router to trigger, a PIM assert among the plurality of routers by forwarding, by the router, a PIM message among the plurality of routers;

re-converging, by the router, with PIM assert states among the plurality of routers and storing, by the router, converged PIM assert state information;

participating, by the router, in a second PIM assert election among the plurality of routers; and

storing, by the router, PIM assert state information based on an outcome of the second PIM assert election;

wherein a Generation ID (“GenID”) of the router changes after acquiring, by the router, RIB convergence.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein a GenID of the router remains the same after acquiring, by the router, RIB convergence, and triggering, by the router, the PIM assert comprises sending, by the router, a PIM hello message including an assert state request option to the plurality of routers.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising receiving, by the router, a join message including a PIM assert re-trigger option, and re-converging, by the router, with PIM assert states comprises sending, by the router, a PIM assert message to the plurality of routers.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein PIM assert state information is stored based on the outcome of the router being elected as a PIM assert winner in the PIM assert election.

10. The method of claim 6 , wherein the PIM assert is triggered before or after RIB convergence is acquired.