Exploratory linktrace operations in a computer network

摘要

In one embodiment, an exploratory linktrace is initiated from an initiating network device with an exploratory linktrace message (ELM) having a target address. Each network device receiving the ELM may then propagate the ELM on a plurality of its ports to a plurality of downstream network devices based on the target address. In addition, each receiving network device returns an exploratory linktrace reply (ELR) for each of the plurality of ports, where each ELR is returned according to one or more mechanisms to mitigate stormed replies to the initiating network device.

主权项

1. A method, comprising:
receiving an exploratory linktrace message (ELM) having a multicast or broadcast target address from an initiating network device on a port at a receiving network device; propagating the ELM on a plurality of ports of the receiving network device, to a plurality of downstream network devices, based on the multicast or broadcast target address of the ELM; generating, by the receiving network device, an exploratory linktrace reply (ELR) for each of the plurality of ports of the receiving network device to produce a plurality of ELRs for the receiving network device; concatenating, by the receiving network device, the plurality of ELRs for the receiving network device into one or more concatenating ELRs, the one or more concatenating ELRs indicating the port of the receiving network device on which the ELM was received and the plurality of ports of the receiving network device on which the ELM was propagated; and returning, from the receiving network device, the one or more concatenating ELRs to the initiating network device.