Connectivity fault management (CFM) in networks with link aggregation group connections
DC CAFCFirst Claim
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1. A maintenance entity in an Ethernet Connectivity Fault Management (CFM) domain, comprising:
- a port definer module;
a connection configured to be connected to a group of aggregated physical links, said group of links comprising a single logical link to which packets are directed;
said port definer module being configured to designate any one physical link of said logical link as required for examining of said designated physical link of said logical link, said designation comprising forwarding at least one CFM message to said logical link in such a way as to be forwarded over said logical link specifically via said designated physical link, said designation being available for each physical link separately, thereby allowing examination according to requirement of any physical link of said logical link.
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Abstract
A maintenance entity for an Ethernet Connectivity Fault Management (CFM) domain. The maintenance entity comprises a port definer module and a connection which is connected to a group of aggregated link. The port definer module examines a designated link of the group by forwarding CFM messages via the designated link.
53 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A maintenance entity in an Ethernet Connectivity Fault Management (CFM) domain, comprising:
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a port definer module; a connection configured to be connected to a group of aggregated physical links, said group of links comprising a single logical link to which packets are directed; said port definer module being configured to designate any one physical link of said logical link as required for examining of said designated physical link of said logical link, said designation comprising forwarding at least one CFM message to said logical link in such a way as to be forwarded over said logical link specifically via said designated physical link, said designation being available for each physical link separately, thereby allowing examination according to requirement of any physical link of said logical link. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for using Connectivity Fault Management (CFM) functions to examine aggregated link connections, said system comprising:
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a plurality of maintenance entities connected to a CFM domain, each one of said maintenance entities comprising a port definer module; at least one group of aggregated physical links comprising a single logical link, configured for connecting a first and a second of said plurality of maintenance entities; the port definer module of said first maintenance entity being configured to designate any physical link as required of said single logical link, and examine said designated link of said single logical link by forwarding at least one CFM message to said second maintenance entity via said logical link in such a way that said CFM message is passed specifically via said designated physical link, thereby to allow examination of any physical link of said single logical link. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for implementing connectivity fault management (CFM) functions in a network, comprising:
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a) connecting first and second maintenance entities via a link aggregation group (LAG), said LAG comprising a single logical link made up of a plurality of physical links; b) using said first maintenance entity to select one of said physical links as a designated link for forwarding a CFM message via a designated link of said LAG; and c) verifying the functioning of said designated link by analyzing the outcome of said forwarding, each of said physical links being selectable as said designated link, thereby to provide for examination as required for any physical link of said group comprising said single logical link. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. An entity for maintaining connectivity in an Ethernet Connectivity Fault Management (CFM) domain, comprising:
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a port definer module; a connection configured to be connected to a group of aggregated physical links, said group of links comprising a single logical link to which packets are directed; said port definer module being configured to designate any one physical link of said logical link as required for sending an Ethernet packet via said designated physical link of said logical link, said designation comprising forwarding at least one CFM message to said logical link in such a way as to be forwarded over said logical link specifically via said designated physical link, said designation being available for each physical link separately, thereby allowing forwarding via any specific physical link of said logical link and maintaining connectivity despite faults in some of said physical links.
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Specification