Methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to monitor communication paths in communication systems

A method, comprising:

• identifying a plurality of communication links of a communication system, the communication links communicatively coupling routers in the communication system;
• identifying a plurality of communication paths in the communication system, each of the communication paths being routed via one or more of the communication links;
• testing the plurality of communication links during a first interval by testing at least a first portion of the communication paths;
• testing the plurality of communication links during the second interval by testing at least a second portion of the communication paths different from the first portion of the communication paths;
• detecting at least one of a removed communication link or a removed communication path;
• changing the first portion of the communication paths to include at least one of the communication paths from the second portion of the communication paths such that testing the first portion of the communication paths and testing the second portion of the communication paths collectively test each of the links remaining in the plurality of communication links;
• and
• identifying a communication link failure based on the testing.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a topology analyzer to:
• identify a plurality of communication links of a communication system, the communication links communicatively coupling routers in the communication system;
• identify a plurality of communication paths in the communication system, each of the communication paths being routed via one or more of the communication links;
• and
• detect at least one of a removed communication link or a removed communication path;
• and
• a collector to:
• test the plurality of communication links during a first interval by testing at least a first portion of the communication paths;
• test the plurality of communication links during a second interval by testing at least a second portion of the communication paths different from the first portion of the communication paths;
• change the first portion of the communication paths to include at least one of the communication paths from the second portion of the communication paths such that testing the first portion of the communication paths and testing the second portion of the communication paths collectively test each of the plurality of communication links;
• and
• identify a communication link failure based on the testing.