Scalable Connectivity Fault Management In A Bridged/Virtual Private Lan Service Environment

• US 20090109861A1
• Filed: 03/17/2008
• Published: 04/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ericsson AB (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: Ericsson AB (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Mehta, Rishi, Kini, Sriganesh
• Granted Patent: US 8,284,678 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/242
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/06 Management of faults, events, alarms or notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0627 by acting on the notification or alarm source
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/40 using virtualisation of network functions or resources, e.g. SDN or NFV entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 by checking connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2528 Translation at a proxy

Abstract

A method and apparatus that proxies connectivity check messages and sends fault state changes messages across an MPLS/VPLS network is described. A network element proxies connectivity check messages for remote maintenance endpoints based on a local database. The network element updates the database based on received fault state change message that identify a fault state change of a remote maintenance endpoint. The network element detects fault state changes of local maintenance endpoints and sends a fault state change message to other network elements that proxy connectivity check message for the local maintenance endpoints.

Claims

1. A computerized method comprising:

detecting according to a first protocol a fault state change-of one of a set of one or more local maintenance endpoints;

creating a fault state change message according to a second protocol based on the detected fault state change; and

sending the fault state change message according to the second protocol to at least one of a plurality of network elements proxying connectivity check messages.

2. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein the fault state change indicates a connectivity change for the one of the set of one or more local maintenance endpoints, the change is one of connecting to a network, becoming active on the network, and losing connectivity to the network.

3. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein the first protocol is Connectivity Fault Management protocol.

4. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein the second protocol is Virtual Circuit Connectivity Verification protocol.

5. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein information about the fault state change is stored in fields of a VCCV message.

6. The computerized method of claim 1, wherein a managed endpoint is one of a personal computer, a server, a bridge, and a switch.

7. A machine-readable medium that stores instructions, which when executed by a set of one or more processors, cause said set of processors to perform operations comprising:

detect, according to a first protocol, a fault state change of one of a set of one or more local maintenance endpoints;

create a fault state change message according to a second protocol based on the detected fault state change; and

send the fault state change message according to the second protocol to at least one of a plurality of network elements that proxies connectivity check messages.

8. The machine-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the fault state change indicates a connectivity change for the one of the set of one or more local maintenance endpoints, the change is one of connecting to a network, becoming active on the network, and losing connectivity to the network.

9. The machine-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the first protocol is Connectivity Fault Management protocol.

10. The machine-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the second protocol is Virtual Circuit Connectivity Verification protocol.

11. The machine-readable medium of claim 7, wherein information about the fault state change is stored in fields of a VCCV message.

12. The machine-readable medium of claim 7, wherein a managed endpoint is one of a personal computer, a server, a bridge, and a switch.

13. An apparatus comprising:

a connectivity check detection module to detect, according to a first protocol, a fault state change of one of a set of one or more local maintenance endpoints; and

a connectivity check fault state change module to create a fault state change message according to a second protocol based on the detected fault state change and send the fault state change message according to the second protocol to at least one of a plurality of network elements that proxies connectivity check messages.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the fault state change indicates a connectivity change for the one of the set of one or more local maintenance endpoints, the change is one of connecting, to a network, becoming active on the network, and losing connectivity to the network.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first protocol is Connectivity Fault Management protocol.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the second protocol is Virtual Circuit Connectivity Verification protocol.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein information about the fault state change is stored in fields of a VCCV message.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein a managed endpoint is one of a personal computer, a server, a bridge, and a switch.

19. A network element comprising:

a controller card that controls functions of the network element;

a set of one or more line cards, wherein at least one of the line cards configured to

detect, according to a first protocol, a fault state change of one of a set of one or more local maintenance endpoints,

create a fault state change message according to a second protocol based on the detected fault state change, and

send the fault state change message according to the second protocol to at least one of a plurality of network elements that proxies connectivity check messages.

20. The network element of claim 19, wherein the first protocol is Connectivity Fault Management protocol.

21. The network element of claim 19, wherein the second protocol is Virtual Circuit Connectivity Verification protocol.

22. The network element of claim 19, wherein information about the fault state change is stored in fields of a VCCV message.