Method and apparatus for diagnosing faults in a hybrid internet protocol network

#This invention relates generally to IP (Internet Protocol) diagnostic systems, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for diagnosing faults in a hybrid IP network.

#As hybrid packet networks continue to evolve, the need for diagnosing troubled connections becomes increasingly important to the service provider of such networks. Hybrid IP (Internet Protocol) networks can include, for example, conventional IP routers and Ethernet switches for interconnecting parties. It is very common for these networks to support multicast communications (e.g., streaming video) between a source and many receivers such as computer terminals. When a user of a receiver experiences a communication interruption, it is common practice for the user to call the service provider and seek technical assistance.

#Typically, service providers employ conventional diagnostic tools operating at the receiver of the end user to diagnose faults in the multicast connection. Tools such as “Mtrace” can be used to trace the multicast route from the receiver to the source. Consequently, the service provider can quickly diagnose, for example, a faulty router or links and thereby take evasive action to restore service to the end user. In hybrid networks, however, Ethernet switches serve as a pass-through devices in which IP mtrace packets are relayed between switches without inclusion of telemetry data from the switches. Consequently, if the communication issue arises from a fault at an Ethernet switch or sequence of switches, the service provider has no means of detecting the fault with a conventional Mtrace diagnostic test.

#FIG. 1 is block diagram of a hybrid network of Ethernet switches and IP routers according to an embodiment of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is block diagram of the IP router and the Ethernet switch, respectively, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

#FIG. 3 is block diagram depicting a format of an Ethernet query packet according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

#While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of embodiments of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the embodiments of the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward.

#FIG. 1 is block diagram of a hybrid network 100 of Ethernet switches 114 and IP routers 112 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The present illustration represents a multicast network created between a source 102 (e.g., a server supplying streaming video) and a receiver 104 (e.g., a computer terminal of an end user). A multicast network in the present context extends the broadcast concept of one to many by allowing the sending of one transmission to many users in a defined group, but not necessarily to all users in that group.

#Large service providers typically encounter a mix of network elements such as shown in FIG. 1. The Ethernet switches 114 can, for example, represent IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol) snooping Ethernet switches. These switches can reside in a customers network, or can be supplied by the service provider. The IP routers 112 are conventional Internet Protocol routers available from many vendors such as, for example, Cisco™ Corporation.