Hop Limit/TTL propagation mode aware relayed MPLS/SRv6 traceroute

An initiator node in a network comprising circuitry configured to:

• forward a traceroute packet to a relay node,
• receive a response to the traceroute packet with a first data structure inside the traceroute packet that indicates a propagation mode at the relay node and an operation type performed at the relay node,
• forward subsequent traceroute packets with a second data structure inside the subsequent traceroute packets with data used to indicate changes in a header of the subsequent traceroute packets, and
• receive a response to the subsequent traceroute packets with the changes to the header based on the data.

A method implemented in a network, comprising:

• receiving a traceroute packet at a relay node;
• responding to the traceroute packet with a first data structure inside the traceroute packet that indicates a propagation mode at the relay node and an operation type performed at the relay node,
• receiving subsequent traceroute packets with a second data structure inside the subsequent traceroute packets with data used to indicate changes in a header of the subsequent traceroute packets, and
• forwarding the subsequent traceroute packets with the changes to the header based on the data.