System and method for providing proactive fault monitoring in a network environment
First Claim
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1. A method, comprising:
- communicating a request packet from an originating network element to a first next hop network element, wherein the request packet is associated with a request for a list of MAC addresses;
receiving a response to the request;
communicating a test packet to initiate fault monitoring, wherein the test packet is communicated to a second next hop network element and the test packet includes at least one of the MAC addresses provided by the first next hop network element; and
receiving a plurality of fault monitoring results, wherein the results are limited to reflect results of monitoring multiple paths between the originating network element and the second hop network element and associated with the first next hop network element;
wherein the fault monitoring comprises at least one of detecting, isolating, and correcting a malfunction in the multiple paths between the originating network element and the second hop network element and associated with the first next hop network element; and
wherein the originating network element and the second next hop network element are connected via a plurality of paths through the first hop network element and the test packet is communicated using equal cost multipath (“
ECMP”
) routing.
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Abstract
An example method is provided and includes communicating a request packet to a first network element. The request packet is associated with a request for a list of flow parameters. The method also includes receiving a response to the request for the list of flow parameters, and communicating a test packet to initiate fault monitoring. The test packet is communicated to a second network element and the test packet includes at least one of the flow parameters provided by the first network element. The method also includes receiving a plurality of fault monitoring results. The results are limited to reflect multiple paths associated with the first network element.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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communicating a request packet from an originating network element to a first next hop network element, wherein the request packet is associated with a request for a list of MAC addresses; receiving a response to the request; communicating a test packet to initiate fault monitoring, wherein the test packet is communicated to a second next hop network element and the test packet includes at least one of the MAC addresses provided by the first next hop network element; and receiving a plurality of fault monitoring results, wherein the results are limited to reflect results of monitoring multiple paths between the originating network element and the second hop network element and associated with the first next hop network element; wherein the fault monitoring comprises at least one of detecting, isolating, and correcting a malfunction in the multiple paths between the originating network element and the second hop network element and associated with the first next hop network element; and wherein the originating network element and the second next hop network element are connected via a plurality of paths through the first hop network element and the test packet is communicated using equal cost multipath (“
ECMP”
) routing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. One or more non-transitory tangible media that includes code for execution and when executed by a processor operable to perform operations comprising:
communicating a request packet from an originating network element to a first next hop network element, wherein the request packet is associated with a request for a list of MAC addresses; receiving a response to the request; communicating a test packet to initiate fault monitoring, wherein the test packet is communicated to a second next hop network element and the test packet includes at least one of the MAC addresses provided by the first next hop network element; and receiving a plurality of fault monitoring results, wherein the results are limited to reflect results of monitoring multiple paths between the originating network element and the second hop network element and associated with the first next hop network element; wherein the fault monitoring comprises at least one of detecting, isolating, and correcting a malfunction in the multiple paths between the originating network element and the second hop network element and associated with the first next hop network element; and wherein the originating network element and the second next hop network element are connected via a plurality of paths through the first hop network element and the test packet is communicated using equal cost multipath (“
ECMP”
) routing.- View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus, comprising:
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a memory element configured to store electronic code, a processor operable to execute instructions associated with the electronic code, and a fault monitoring module configured to interface with the processor and the memory element in order to cause the apparatus to; communicate a request packet from an originating network element to a first next hop network element, wherein the request packet is associated with a request for a list of MAC addresses; receive a response to the request; communicate a test packet to initiate fault monitoring, wherein the test packet is communicated to a second next hop network element and the test packet includes at least one of the MAC addresses provided by the first next hop network element; and receive a plurality of fault monitoring results, wherein the results are limited to reflect results of monitoring multiple paths between the originating network element and the second hop network element and associated with the first next hop network element; wherein the fault monitoring comprises at least one of detecting, isolating, and correcting a malfunction in the multiple paths between the originating network element and the second hop network element and associated with the first next hop network element; and wherein the originating network element and the second next hop network element are connected via a plurality of paths through the first hop network element and the test packet is communicated using equal cost multipath (“
ECMP”
) routing. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification