Service path failure location estimation method, apparatus, and program

An estimation apparatus configured to estimate a failure location in a service path that is a communication line or a communication path configured in a communication network, the estimation apparatus comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a storage medium having computer program instructions stored thereon, when executed by the processor, perform to:
• generate information regarding success or not success in a connectivity checking test between “N (N is equal to or greater than two)” nodes in a case in which a failure occurs at one or more locations in a verification target path including the N nodes, the information being generated as pattern information for each failure location in advance;
• select “M (M is equal to or greater than two)” network devices configuring the service path from among a plurality of network devices in the communication network in accordance with occurrence of the failure;
• execute the connectivity checking test between the selected network devices;
• and
• compare a checking result of the connectivity checking test with the pattern information that satisfies “N=M” in the pattern information generated in advance, and, in a case in which the pattern information that satisfies “N=M” matches the checking result, estimate the failure location in the service path based on the failure location associated with the pattern information that satisfies “N=M”.