Cisco Systems, Inc.
Determining connectivity between compute nodes in multi-hop paths

Abstract:

Techniques and mechanisms to enable a Bidirectional Forwarding Detection (BFD) Echo function to be used for IP multi-hop paths using IP encapsulation. A source device may encapsulate one or more BFD Echo packets as payloads in IP packets. The resulting IP packets may then be sent from a source device to a destination device over a multi-hop path such that one or more intermediary devices forward the IP packets onto the destination device. Upon receiving the IP packets, the destination device may echo back the one or more BFD Echo packets in the forwarding plane to indicate connectivity of the forwarding path between the devices. However, if the BFD Echo packets are not echoed back to the source device, the source device may determine that the multi-hop path has experienced a fault, and that traffic is to be rerouted through other paths.