Logical Group Endpoint Discovery for Data Communication Network

Abstract

A method and system for logical group endpoint discovery in a data communication network is disclosed. A network endpoint receives from a source a request identifying a logical group and determines whether a port associated with the endpoint is a member of the logical group. If a port associated with the endpoint is a member of the logical group, the endpoint transmits to the source a reply identifying the port and the logical group. The request may be multicast while the reply may be unicast. The logical group may be a VLAN or a multicast group. The source and endpoint are preferably 802.1 ag maintenance endpoints. The request may include an IEEE 802.1 ag continuity check multicast address as a destination address.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a service provider network in one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a service provider MEP node in one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 shows a MEP and associated forwarding database and VLAN table in one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram describing steps performed by a MEP that receives a vQuery_request in one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram describing a method for discovering VLAN misconfigurations in one embodiment of the invention.

Claims

1. A method for discovering network endpoint virtual local area network (VLAN) associations, comprising: receiving by an endpoint from a source a request identifying a VLAN;determining by the endpoint whether a port associated with the endpoint is a member of the VLAN; andif a port associated with the endpoint is a member of the VLAN, transmitting by the endpoint to the source a reply identifying the port and the VLAN.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the request identifies a response time and the transmitting step is performed before the response time has elapsed.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the transmitting step is performed at a random time before the response time has elapsed.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is multicast to a plurality of endpoints and the reply is unicast to the source.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the request includes an IEEE 802.1ag continuity check multicast address as a destination address.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the source is an IEEE 802.1ag maintenance endpoint.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the endpoint is an IEEE 802.1ag maintenance endpoint.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed at least twice, wherein in a first instance the identified VLAN is a management VLAN and in a second instance the identified VLAN is a data VLAN.

9. A method for discovering network endpoint multicast group associations, comprising: receiving by an endpoint from a source a request identifying a multicast group;determining by the endpoint whether a port associated with the endpoint is a member of the multicast group; andif a port associated with the endpoint is a member of the multicast group, transmitting by the endpoint to the source a reply identifying the port and the multicast group.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the request identifies a response time and the transmitting step is performed before the response time has elapsed.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the transmitting step is performed at a random time before the response time has elapsed.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the request is multicast to a plurality of endpoints and the reply is unicast to the source.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the request includes an IEEE 802.1ag continuity check multicast address as a destination address.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the source is an IEEE 802.1ag maintenance endpoint.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the endpoint is an IEEE 802.1ag maintenance endpoint.

16. A method for discovering network endpoint logical group associations, comprising: receiving by an endpoint from a source a multicast request identifying a logical group;determining by the endpoint whether a port associated with the endpoint is a member of the logical group; andif a port associated with the endpoint is a member of the logical group, transmitting by the endpoint to the source a unicast reply identifying the port and the logical group.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the logical group is a VLAN.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the logical group is a multicast group.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the request identifies a response time and the transmitting step is performed before the response time has elapsed.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the wherein the request includes an IEEE 802.1ag continuity check multicast address as a destination address.