Systems and methods for collecting and analyzing data to determine link quality and stability in layer two networks

摘要

A method and network element include receiving, at a receiver node, at least one of sender timestamps and sequence numbers in continuity check (CC) frames sent by a sender node; determining receiver timestamps at the receiver node; detecting instability based on one or more of the at least one of sender timestamps and sequence numbers and the receiver timestamps; and performing a remedial action based on the detecting instability. The CC frames can include Bidirectional Forwarding Detection (BFD) or Continuity Check Message (CCM) frames which are regularly transmitted in a session, but do not currently include timestamps or sequence numbers.

主权项

1. A method, comprising:
receiving, at a receiver node, at least one of sender timestamps and sequence numbers in continuity check (CC) frames sent by a sender node; determining receiver timestamps at the receiver node; detecting instability based on one or more of the at least one of sender timestamps and sequence numbers and the receiver timestamps; and performing a remedial action based on the detecting instability; wherein the CC frames comprise periodically transmitted control frames during an entire session between the sender node and the receiver node for continuity, and the at least one of sender timestamps and sequence numbers are appended to an end of the CC frames with a delimiter indicating presence of the at least one of sender timestamps and sequence numbers, and wherein the at least one of sender timestamps and sequence numbers are sent on an ongoing basis during the session, wherein the detecting instability comprises:
determining sequential frame delay based on a difference between the sender timestamps in successive CC frames; anddetecting instability based on deviations in the sequential frame delay from negotiated intervals of the CC frames.