Time-based link fault localization

摘要

Methods and apparatus for a network element or server end station to determine an estimated physical location of a fault in a communications link utilized by two network elements. In an embodiment, the first and second network elements generate link failure indications including time values representing when the respective network element detected the fault. In other embodiments, the link failure indications include time values transmitted over the communications link between the first and second network elements. A time distance between these time values is calculated, which is used to calculate the estimated physical location of the fault. In some embodiments, the link failure indications include sequence numbers transmitted or about to be transmitted over the communications link between the network elements. Sequence distances are calculated between the sequence numbers, and are used to calculate the estimated physical location of the fault.

主权项

1. A method for determining an estimated physical location of a fault in a physical communications link utilized by a first network element and a second network element, the method comprising:
receiving a first link failure indication from the first network element, wherein the first link failure indication comprises a first time value that was received by the first network element from the second network element over the physical communications link; determining a time distance between the first time value and a second time value, wherein the second time value was received by the second network element from the first network element over the physical communications link; and calculating the estimated physical location of the fault based upon the time distance.