Ciena Corporation
Incorporating a generic associated channel (G-ACh) header and channel-type for connectivity fault management (CFM) packets over multi-protocol label switching (MPLS)

Abstract:

Systems and methods for incorporating a new channel-type value in the header of a Generic Associated Channel (G-ACh) for Connectivity Fault Management (CFM) Layer-2 packets over Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) networks are provided. The channel-type value of the G-ACh header may be used for identification of the network-generated CFM Layer-2 packets. In one implementation, a system may include a processing device and a memory device, where the memory device may be configured to store instructions that, when executed, cause the processing device to obtain a Connectivity Fault Management (CFM) packet, encapsulate the CFM packet with Pseudo-Wire (PW) and Label-Switched Path (LSP) labels to create an expanded packet, and incorporate a specific channel-type value in a G-ACh header of the expanded packet to uniquely identify the CFM packet.