Source identification preservation in multiprotocol label switching networks

A Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) network element, comprising:

• at least one port;
• forwarding circuitry communicatively coupled to the port;
• and
• control circuitry communicatively coupled to the forwarding circuitry and the port;
• wherein the forwarding circuitry and the control circuitry are configured to:
• receive a packet destined for a destination node in an MPLS network;
• push an identifier contained in an MPLS label on an MPLS stack associated with the packet, wherein the identifier denotes the MPLS network element as the source of the packet and is pushed prior to any other MPLS labels on the MPLS stack;
• push one or more labels on the MPLS stack indicative of a route of the packet to the destination node;
• and
• transmit the packet into the MPLS network.

A Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) network, comprising:

• a plurality of network elements connected therebetween comprising at least a first network element, a second network element, and a third network element;
• wherein a first packet is sent to the first network element from the second network element with a first source identifier contained in an MPLS label on an MPLS stack;
• wherein a second packet is sent to the first network element from the third network element with a second source identifier contained in an MPLS label on an MPLS stack;
• wherein the first network element is configured to:
• update Operations, Administration, and Maintenance (OAM) data associated with traffic from the second network element on receipt of the first packet and popping the first source identifier;
• and
• update the OAM data associated with traffic from the third network element on receipt of the second packet and popping the second source identifier.