Failure detection for tunneled label-switched paths
First Claim
1. A router that operates as an ingress label-switching router (LSR) of a first label-switched path (LSP), the router comprising:
- a processor;
a protocol module executing on the processor;
wherein the protocol module tests connectivity of the first LSP by sending a Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) echo request packet that includes both a label stack having a label for directing the MPLS echo request packet along the first LSP and a forwarding equivalence class (FEC) stack specifying a FEC identifying the first LSP, andwherein the protocol module receives from an intermediate LSR of the first LSP in response to the MPLS echo request packet, an MPLS echo reply packet that includes information that instructs the ingress LSR to modify the FEC stack specified within subsequent MPLS echo request packets to be sent by the ingress LSR for testing connectivity of the first LSP.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In general, principles of the invention relate to techniques for detecting data plane failures in Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) Label-Switched Paths (LSPs) that may be tunneled over one or more other LSPs. More specifically, the techniques described herein allow for testing connectivity of an LSP that is tunneled through at least one other LSP, and testing connectivity of an inter-autonomous system LSP. For example, a method comprises providing, with an intermediate label-switching router (LSR) of an LSP, instructions to an ingress LSR of the LSP to modify a forwarding equivalence class (FEC) stack of MPLS echo request packets. The intermediate LSR may provide the instructions within an MPLS echo reply packet.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A router that operates as an ingress label-switching router (LSR) of a first label-switched path (LSP), the router comprising:
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a processor; a protocol module executing on the processor; wherein the protocol module tests connectivity of the first LSP by sending a Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) echo request packet that includes both a label stack having a label for directing the MPLS echo request packet along the first LSP and a forwarding equivalence class (FEC) stack specifying a FEC identifying the first LSP, and wherein the protocol module receives from an intermediate LSR of the first LSP in response to the MPLS echo request packet, an MPLS echo reply packet that includes information that instructs the ingress LSR to modify the FEC stack specified within subsequent MPLS echo request packets to be sent by the ingress LSR for testing connectivity of the first LSP. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A router that operates as a label-switching router (LSR) of a first label-switched path (LSP), the router comprising:
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a processor; and a protocol module executing on the processor; wherein the protocol module tests connectivity of the first LSP by receiving from an ingress LSR of the first LSP a Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) echo request packet that includes both a label stack having a label for directing the MPLS echo request packet along the first LSP and a forwarding equivalence class (FEC) stack specifying a FEC identifying the first LSP, and wherein the protocol module sends an MPLS echo reply packet to the ingress LSR in response to the MPLS echo request packet, the MPLS echo reply packet including information that instructs the ingress LSR to modify the FEC stack specified within subsequent MPLS echo request packets to be sent by the ingress LSR for testing connectivity of the first LSP. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification