Identifying soft permanent virtual circuits

摘要

A method and system for identifying switched virtual channel (SVC) connections and soft permanent virtual circuits (SPVCs) which traverse randomly selected switches in a digital communications network are described. The network includes a network management system (NMS) for provisioning the soft permanent virtual circuits across the network from endpoint to endpoint. Two embodiments are described. In the first, information respecting the cross connect route of the SPVC is provided to and retained by the NMS for subsequent retrieval. In the second, the NMS assigns an identifier or tag to the SPVC at the time the request to establish the circuit is issued. This tag is propagated through the network core switches as the SPVC is established and forms part of the information package stored at each switch. The SPVC tag is supplied to the NMS in response to an inquiry as to identity of the SPVC crossing any randomly selected core switch.