Network operations including protocol processing of a packet updating an operations data field of a different protocol

A particular network node in a network, comprising:

• one or more processing elements;
• memory;
• one or more interfaces sending and receiving packets;
• and
• wherein the particular network node performs operations including:
• receiving a particular multiple-protocol (MP) packet, with the particular MP packet including a plurality of protocol headers, with the plurality of protocol headers including a first protocol header associated with a first protocol and a second protocol header associated with a second protocol, and with the second protocol header associated with a second operations data field;
• protocol processing of the first protocol on the particular MP packet, including updating the second operations data field with particular operations data;
• and
• sending, from the particular network node, the particular MP packet including said updated second operations data field with said particular operations data,
• wherein said protocol processing of the first protocol does not include protocol processing of the second protocol.