ETHERNET OAM AT INTRMEDIATE NODES IN A PBT NETWORK

摘要

OAM may be implemented at an intermediate node on a PBT trunk in an Ether net network by causing OAM frames to be addressed to the PBT trunk endpoint but causing the OAM frames to carry an indicia (Ether-type, OpCode, TLV valu e or combination of these and other fields) that the OAM frames are intended to be used for intermediate node OAM functions. The Ether-type, OpCode, and TLV values may be standardized values, or vendor specific values may be use d. Addressing the 0AM frames to the PBT trunk endpoint enables the OAM frame s to follow the PBT trunk through the network. The 0AM indicia signals to th e intermediate nodes that the 0AM frames are intended to be used to perform an intermediate node OAM function. The 0AM frames may contain reverse trunk information to prevent the intermediate nodes from being required to store c orrelation between forward and reverse trunks.