Dataplane-based seamless bidirectional forwarding detection monitoring for network entities

One or more non-transitory computer readable storage media encoded with instructions that, when executed by a processor of a network element, cause the processor to perform operations including:

• assigning, by a network element, a unique segment identifier (ID) to each entity of a plurality of entities that are monitored by the network element;
• receiving a seamless bidirectional forwarding detection (S-BFD) control packet at the network element, the S-BFD control packet including at least a first segment ID associated with a particular entity of the plurality of entities;
• performing a lookup operation for the first segment ID in stored data of the network element;
• and
• handling a forwarding disposition of the S-BFD control packet based on the lookup operation or another condition.

An apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of network ports configured to receive inbound packets and to send outbound packets, the plurality of network ports in communication with a plurality of entities that are monitored by the apparatus;
• a memory;
• and
• a processor coupled to the memory and to the plurality of network ports, wherein the processor is configured to:
• assign a unique segment identifier (ID) to each entity of a plurality of entities that are monitored;
• receive a seamless bidirectional forwarding detection (S-BFD) control packet, the S-BFD control packet including at least a first segment ID associated with a particular entity of the plurality of entities;
• perform a lookup operation for the first segment ID in stored data;
• and
• handle a forwarding disposition of the S-BFD control packet based on the lookup operation or another condition.