Ethernet OAM performance management

A method of collecting performance data on a maintenance entity defined on an Ethernet network, the Ethernet network having a plurality of network elements handling flows of data traffic on data paths extending between flow points on the Ethernet network, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving, by a first of the network elements on the Ethernet network, a relatively constant flow of Ethernet OAM frames inserted into one of the flows of data traffic from a second network element on the Ethernet network, the first and second network elements defining the end points of the maintenance entity on the Ethernet network;
• and
• calculating, based on information obtained from the received Ethernet OAM frames, the performance data of the maintenance entity, the performance data of the maintenance entity being directly related to performance of data traffic on the data path between the end points of the maintenance entity on the Ethernet network;
• wherein the Ethernet OAM frames each have an Ethernet OAM frame header, the Ethernet OAM frame header including at least an Ethernet OAM MAC source address, an Ethernet OAM MAC destination address (DA), and an Ethernet OAM flow ID field;
• and
• wherein the Ethernet OAM flow ID field contains one of a plurality of values to enable network elements on the network to filter the Ethernet OAM frames so that the Ethernet OAM frames can be selectively transmitted or filtered at a network administrative boundary or at an OAM domain boundary.

A method of collecting performance data on a maintenance entity defined on an Ethernet network, the method comprising the steps of:

• transmitting, by a first network element on the Ethernet network, a relatively constant flow of Ethernet OAM frames along with data frames associated with a flow of data traffic to be monitored on the Ethernet network, both the Ethernet OAM frames and the data frames being addressed to a second network element on the Ethernet network, the first and second network elements defining the end points of the maintenance entity on the Ethernet network;
• and
• receiving, from the second network element, at least one response OAM frame transmitted by the second network element onto the Ethernet network and addressed to the first network element in response to receipt of at least one of the Ethernet OAM frames from the flow of Ethernet OAM frames;
• wherein the Ethernet OAM frames each have an Ethernet OAM frame header, the Ethernet OAM frame header including at least an Ethernet OAM MAC source address, an Ethernet OAM MAC destination address (DA), and an Ethernet OAM flow ID field;
• and
• wherein the response contains managed object information, the method further comprising the step of comparing the response managed object information with corresponding managed object information.