Validating reachability for liaison VRFs using OAM ping packets

A first device in an EVPN, the first network device comprising:

• a plurality of processing resources associated with the first device;
• and
• a non-transitory computer-readable medium, coupled to the plurality of processing resources, having stored therein instructions that when executed by the processing resources cause the first device to:
• receive, from a second device, an OAM ping packet, wherein;
• a liaison VRF is provisioned on the first device,
• the liaison VRF functions to publish learned external routes to other devices within the EVPN,
• the OAM ping packet encapsulates an EVI TLV, and
• the EVI TLV specifies an EVI value;
• determine that a configuration of the liaison VRF is mapped onto the specified EVI value;
• and
• send, to the second device, a response to the OAM ping packet indicating that the configuration of the liaison VRF is mapped onto the specified EVI value.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions, which when executed by a plurality of processing resources of a first device, cause the first device to:

• send, to a second device in an EVPN, an OAM ping packet, wherein;
• a liaison VRF is provisioned on the second device,
• the liaison VRF functions to publish learned external routes to other devices within the EVPN,
• the OAM ping packet encapsulates an EVI TLV, and
• the EVI TLV specifies an EVI value;
• receive, from the second device, a response to the OAM ping packet indicating that a configuration of the liaison VRF is mapped onto the specified EVI value;
• and
• determining the liaison VRF is reachable within the EVPN.