Compressed bidirectional forwarding detection control packets

A networking system comprising:

• a first networking device;
• and
• a second networking device in communication with the first networking device via a network;
• wherein the first networking device is configured to:
• detect a configuration state present within the network;
• select, based on the detected configuration state, between a first format and a second format to be used in generating a hello packet for transmission via the network to the second networking device;
• generate the hello packet according to the selected first or second format;
• and transmit the hello packet to the network, and
• wherein the first format requires at least one field that is absent from the second format.

A networking system comprising:

• a first networking device configured to:
• detect a configuration state present within a network;
• select, based on the detected configuration state, between a first format and a second format to be used in generating a hello packet for transmission via the network to a second networking device;
• generate the hello packet according to the selected first or second format;
• and transmit the hello packet to the network,
• wherein the first format requires at least one field that is absent from the second format, and
• wherein the hello packet is a bidirectional forwarding detection protocol (BFD) control packet.