System and method for detecting loops in a customer-provider bridge domain
AssigneeAlcatel
InventorsDavid Elie-Dit-Cosaque, Kamakshi Sridhar
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Abstract
A loop detection system and method operable in an Ethernet network having a provider network and a customer network. In one embodiment, a provider edge (PE) entity is operable to generate a test frame with at least one of a destination address (DA) and source address (SA) that is unknown to the customer network. The test frame is broadcast to the customer network coupled to the PE entity. Upon determining that the test frame or its duplicates are received back by the PE entity within a first time period, loop location within the Network is deduced responsive to the determination.
Claims31
A loop detection method operable in an Ethernet network, comprising:
- generating, by a provider edge (PE) entity disposed in a provider network, a test frame with at least one of a source address (SA) and destination address (DA) unknown to a customer network;
- broadcasting said test frame to said customer network coupled to said PE entity;
- and
- determining if said test frame is received back by said PE entity within a first time period, and if so, deducing loop location within said network responsive to said determination.
A loop detection system operable in an Ethernet network, comprising:
- means for generating, by a provider edge (PE) entity disposed in a provider network, a test frame with at least one of a source address (SA) and destination address (DA) unknown to a customer network;
- means for broadcasting said test frame to said customer network coupled to said PE entity;
- and
- means for deducing loop location within said Network responsive to determining if said test frame is received back by said PE entity within a first time period.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.