Preparing for planned events in computer networks

A network device comprising:

• a control unit that includes a maintenance endpoint (MEP) module configured to be a member of a maintenance association that is established to verify the integrity of a single service instance, wherein the maintenance association comprises a logical grouping of at least the network device, an intermediate network device, and an additional network device, the intermediate network device being positioned between the network device and the additional network device, wherein the intermediate network device communicatively couples to the network device and the additional network device;
• and
• at least one interface including a distributed MEP module that outputs a first outgoing maintenance message to each of the intermediate network device and the additional network device, to verify connectivity between the network device and a respective one of the intermediate network device and the additional network device,
• wherein the control unit receives an indication to initiate a planned event capable of disrupting the maintenance association;
• wherein the distributed MEP module, prior to the control unit performing the planned event capable of disrupting the maintenance association, generates a modified outgoing maintenance message that indicates connectivity and includes an indicator that the planned event will be performed by the network device and transmits the modified outgoing maintenance message to the intermediate network device and to the additional network device, to direct the intermediate network device and the additional network device to avoid detecting the planned event as a connectivity fault,
• wherein the intermediate network device outputs a second outgoing maintenance message to the network device and to the additional network device after receiving the modified outgoing maintenance message, wherein the second outgoing maintenance message output by the intermediate network device does not inform the third network device of the planned event to be performed by the first network device, and
• wherein the control unit, after transmitting the modified outgoing maintenance message, performs the planned event within the network device.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that cause a processor to:

• configure a first network device to be a member of a maintenance association, wherein the maintenance association comprises a logical grouping of at least the first network device, a second network device, and a third network device, the maintenance association being established to verify the integrity of a single service instance, wherein the second network device is positioned between the first network device and the third network device, and wherein the second network device communicatively couples to the first and third network devices;
• output a first outgoing maintenance message with the first network device to each of the second and third network devices to verify connectivity between the first network device and a respective one of the second and third network devices;
• receive an indication to initiate a planned event with the first network device;
• prior to performing the planned event within the first network device capable of disrupting the maintenance association, generate a modified outgoing maintenance message with the first network device that indicates connectivity and includes an indicator that the planned event will be performed by the first network device;
• transmit, with the first network device, the modified outgoing maintenance message to the second and third network devices to direct the second network device to avoid detecting the planned event as a connectivity fault, wherein the second network device outputs a second outgoing maintenance message to the first and third network devices after receiving the modified outgoing maintenance message, and wherein the second outgoing maintenance message output by the second network device does not inform the third network device of the planned event to be performed by the first network device;
• and
• after transmitting the modified outgoing maintenance message, perform the planned event within the first network device.

A method comprising:

• configuring a first network device to be a member of a maintenance association that is established to verify connectivity of a single service instance, wherein the maintenance association comprises a logical grouping of at least the first network device, a second network device, and an intermediate network device positioned between the first and second network devices;
• prior to the second network device performing a planned event capable of disrupting the maintenance association, receiving, with the first network device, a modified incoming maintenance message forwarded by the intermediate device from the second network device, wherein the modified incoming maintenance message indicates connectivity and includes multiple indicators, the multiple indicators including a first indicator that the planned event will be performed by the second network device and a second indicator to indicate that an additional planned event will be performed by the intermediate network device;
• determining whether the planned event or the additional planned event will require more time to perform;
• and
• updating, with the first network device, a loss threshold value in response to the multiple indicators in the modified incoming maintenance message, and based at least in part on the determination of whether the planned event or the additional planned event will require more time to perform, so that the first network device avoids detecting the planned event as a connectivity fault, wherein the loss threshold value indicates a period of time during which the first network device waits to receive a successive incoming maintenance message before detecting the connectivity fault.

A network device comprising:

• a control unit that includes a maintenance endpoint (MEP) module configured to be a member of a maintenance association that is established to verify connectivity of a single service instance, wherein the maintenance association comprises a logical grouping of at least the network device, an additional network device, and an intermediate device positioned between the network device and the additional network device;
• and
• at least one interface that includes a distributed MEP module that, prior to the additional network device performing a planned event capable of disrupting the maintenance session, receives a modified incoming maintenance message forwarded by the intermediate network device from the additional network device, wherein the modified incoming maintenance message indicates connectivity and includes multiple indicators, the multiple indicators including a first indicator that the planned event will be performed by the additional network device, and a second indicator that indicates that an additional planned event will be performed by the intermediate network device,
• wherein the MEP module of the control unit determines whether the planned event or the additional planned event will require more time to perform, and based on the determination, updates a loss threshold value in response to the multiple indicators in the modified incoming maintenance message so that the network device avoids detecting the planned event as a connectivity fault, wherein the loss threshold value indicates a period of time during which the network device waits to receive a successive incoming maintenance message before detecting the connectivity fault.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that cause a processor to:

• configure a first network device to be a member of a maintenance association that is established to verify connectivity of a single service instance, wherein the maintenance association comprises a logical grouping of at least the first network device, a second network device, and an intermediate network device positioned between the first and second network devices;
• prior to the second network device performing a planned event capable of disrupting the maintenance association, receive, with the first network device, a modified incoming maintenance message forwarded by the intermediate device from the second network device, wherein the modified incoming maintenance message indicates connectivity and includes multiple indicators, the multiple indicators including a first indicator that the planned event will be performed by the second network device and a second indicator to indicate that an additional planned event will be performed by the intermediate network device;
• determine whether the planned event or the additional planned event will require more time to perform;
• and
• update, with the first network device, a loss threshold value in response to the multiple indicators in the modified incoming maintenance message, and based at least in part on the determination of whether the planned event or the additional planned event will require more time to perform, so that the first network device avoids detecting the planned event as a connectivity fault, wherein the loss threshold value indicates a period of time during which the first network device waits to receive a successive incoming maintenance message before detecting the connectivity fault.

A method comprising:

• receiving, with an intermediate network device positioned between first and second network devices, an outgoing maintenance message from the first network device, wherein the outgoing maintenance message is sent by the first network device to the second network device to verify connectivity of a maintenance association, wherein the maintenance association comprises a logical grouping of at least the first and second network devices that is established to verify the integrity of a single service instance, and wherein the intermediate device is assigned to one of:
• 1) a first maintenance level equal to that assigned to both the first and second network devices, or 2) a second maintenance level that is not equal to that assigned to either of the first or second network devices, the maintenance level assigned to the first and second network devices indicating a portion of a maintenance domain to which the maintenance association is associated;
• prior to performing a planned event within the intermediate network device capable of disrupting the maintenance association, updating, with the intermediate network device, the outgoing maintenance message to indicate that the intermediate network device will perform the planned event;
• forwarding, with the intermediate network device, the updated outgoing maintenance message to the second network device to inform the second network device that the intermediate network device is going to perform the planned event.

An intermediate network device positioned between first and second network devices, the intermediate network device comprising:

• at least one interface that receives an outgoing maintenance message from the first network device, wherein the outgoing maintenance message is sent by the first network device to the second network device to verify connectivity of a maintenance association, wherein the maintenance association comprises a logical grouping of at least the first and second network devices that is established to verify the integrity of a single service instance, and wherein the intermediate device is assigned to one of:
• 1) a first maintenance level equal to that assigned to both the first and second network devices, or 2) a second maintenance level that is not equal to that assigned to either of the first or second network devices, the maintenance level assigned to the first and second network devices indicating a portion of a maintenance domain to which the maintenance association is associated;
• and
• a control unit that receives data initiating a planned event capable of disrupting the maintenance association,
• wherein the at least one interface, prior to the control unit performing the planned event, updating, updates the outgoing maintenance message to indicate that the intermediate network device will perform the planned event and forwards the updated outgoing maintenance message to the second network device to inform the second network device that the intermediate network device is going to perform the planned event.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that cause a processor to:

• receive, with an intermediate network device positioned between first and second network devices, an outgoing maintenance message from the first network device, wherein the outgoing maintenance message is sent by the first network device to the second network device to verify connectivity of a maintenance association, wherein the maintenance association comprises a logical grouping of at least the first and second network devices that is established to verify the integrity of a single service instance, and wherein the intermediate device is assigned to one of:
• 1) a first maintenance level equal to that assigned to both the first and second network devices, or 2) a second maintenance level that is not equal to that assigned to either of the first or second network devices, the maintenance level assigned to the first and second network devices indicating a portion of a maintenance domain to which the maintenance association is associated;
• prior to performing a planned event within the intermediate network device capable of disrupting the maintenance association, update, with the intermediate network device, the outgoing maintenance message to indicate that the intermediate network device will perform the planned event;
• forward, with the intermediate network device, the updated outgoing maintenance message to the second network device to inform the second network device that the intermediate network device is going to perform the planned event.