Broadband access note with a virtual maintenance end point

A user-facing provider edge (u-PE) device for association with an Ethernet access network, the u-PE device comprising:

• a port for connection with a Digital Subscriber Line;
• and
• a processor to run code that implements a virtual maintenance end point (vMEP) operable to translate a loopback message (LBM) into an operations and maintenance (OAM) loopback message, the OAM loopback message being transmitted to a residential gateway (RG) device to determine a link-level connectivity status between the u-PE device and the RG device, the vMEP being further operable to transmit a unicast message on the Ethernet access network, the LBM and the unicast message being in compliance with the IEEE 802.1ag specification.

A broadband access node for connecting a residential gateway (RG) device to an Ethernet access network, the broadband access node comprising:

• a port for connection with the RG device via a physical link;
• and
• means for implementing a virtual maintenance end point (vMEP) operable to send a loopback message from the port to the RG device to determine a link-level connectivity status of the physical link between the RG device and the broadband access node, the loopback message being compliant with a standard other than the IEEE 802.1ag specification, the vMEP being further operable to send an IEEE 802.1ag-compliant message to a Broadband Network Gateway (BBNG) device on the Ethernet access network indicative of the link-level connectivity status of the physical link.

A Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) device for connection to an Ethernet access network, comprising:

• a port for connection to a RG device via a physical link;
• a processor that runs code which implements a virtual maintenance end point (vMEP) operable to sends a loopback message from the port to the RG device to determine a link-level connectivity status of the physical link, the loopback message being compliant with an operations and maintenance (OAM) specification that is non-IEEE 802.1ag compliant, the vMEP being further operable to send a IEEE 802.1ag-compliant message to a Broadband Network Gateway (BBNG) device on the Ethernet access network indicative of the link-level connectivity status of the physical link.