Scalable continuity test for a group of communication paths
AssigneeCisco Technology, Inc.
InventorsStewart Frederick Bryant, Carlos M. Pignataro, George Swallow
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In one embodiment, a method includes generating at a network device, a continuity test packet configured to pass through a set of communication paths terminating at the network device and at least one other network device located at an opposite end of the communication paths, transmitting at the network device the continuity test packet on a first communication path in the set of communication paths, and identifying at the network device a failure in the set of communication paths if the continuity test packet is not received on a last communication path in the set of communication paths. An apparatus and logic are also disclosed herein.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- building a concatenated communication path from a set of communication paths extending between a first network device and a second network device and terminating at one end at said first network device and at an opposite end at said second network device;
- generating at said first network device, a continuity test packet configured to pass through said set of communication paths;
- transmitting at said first network device, the continuity test packet on a first communication path in said set of communication paths;
- receiving at said first network device, the continuity test packet on a second communication path in said set of communication paths and forwarding the continuity test packet from said first network device on a third communication path in said set of communication paths;
- and
- identifying at said first network device, a failure in said set of communication paths if the continuity test packet is not received on a last communication path in said set of communication paths.
An apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of interfaces for communication with a plurality of communication paths terminating at the apparatus and at least one other network device located at an opposite end of said communication paths;
- and
- a processor for building a concatenated communication path from a set of communication paths extending between a first network device and a second network device and terminating at one end at said first network device and at an opposite end at said second network device, generating a continuity test packet configured to pass through said set of communication paths, transmitting the continuity test packet on a first communication path in said set of communication paths, receiving at said first network device, the continuity test packet on a second communication path in said set of communication paths and forwarding the continuity test packet from said first network device on a third communication path in said set of communication paths, and identifying a failure in said set of communication paths if the continuity test packet is not received on a last communication path in said set of communication paths.
Logic encoded on a non-transitory computer readable media and when executed by a processor operable to:
- build a concatenated communication path from a set of communication paths extending between a first network device and a second network device and terminating at one end at said first network device and at an opposite end at said second network device
- generate a continuity test packet configured to pass through said set of communication paths;
- transmit the continuity test packet on a first communication path in said set of communication paths;
- process at said first network device, the continuity test packet received on a second communication path in said set of communication paths and forward the continuity test packet from said first network device on a third communication path in said set of communication paths;
- and
- identify a failure in said set of communication paths if the continuity test packet is not received on a last communication path in said set of communication paths.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.