Tracking and reporting faults detected on different priority levels
A network element configured to support Connectivity Fault Management (CFM) for Operation, Administration and Maintenance (OAM) includes circuitry configured to track faults in the CFM via a defect indication variable that includes multiple bits wherein each bit is one of a certain priority level of a plurality of priority levels and a reserved value, and, responsive to one or more of detection of a new fault and clearing of an existing fault, update the defect indication variable accordingly based on a corresponding priority level of the new fault or the existing fault.
1 . A network element configured to support Connectivity Fault Management (CFM) for Operation, Administration and Maintenance (OAM) comprising circuitry configured to:
track faults in the CFM via a defect indication variable that includes multiple bits wherein each bit represents one or more of a certain priority level of a plurality of priority levels and a reserved value, wherein the defect indication variable comprises a variable that individually signifies the existence or absence of a fault at each of the plurality of priority level, and
responsive to one or more of detection of a new fault and clearing of an existing fault, update the defect indication variable accordingly based on a corresponding priority level of the new fault or the existing fault; and
determine, by comparing the updated defect indication variable with a previously stored defect indication variable, whether the highest priority fault indicated by the defect indication variable has changed due to the update, and responsive to whether the highest priority fault has changed, transmit a notification identifying the highest priority fault currently active.
2 . The network element of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to
clear a bit in the defect indication variable when a corresponding fault at a given priority level of the bit is cleared.
3 . The network element of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of priority levels include at least five levels.
4 . The network element of claim 1 , wherein the defect indication variable having more than one bit set indicates a plurality of faults at different priority levels of the plurality of priority levels.
5 . The network element of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to
responsive to a new fault, detect a first occurrence of a fault in the defect indication variable, and
check whether the first occurrence is at a same priority level of the new fault, and if so, take no action, otherwise raise an alarm for the new fault.
6 . The network element of claim 1 , wherein the defect indication variable is utilized in place of a MAdefectIndication variable.
7 . The network element of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of priority levels include
a first priority level for tracking cross-connect Continuity Check Message (CCM) faults, a second level for tracking error CCM faults, a third priority level for tracking Remote Maintenance End Point (RMEP) CCM faults, a fourth priority level for tracking Media Access Control (MAC) status faults, and a fifth priority level for tracking Remote Defect Indication (RDI) faults.
8 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium configured to store computer logic having instructions that, when executed, cause a network element to:
track faults in the Connectivity Fault Management (CFM) via a defect indication variable that includes multiple bits wherein each bit represents one or more of a certain priority level of a plurality of priority levels and a reserved value, wherein the defect indication variable comprises a variable that individually signifies the existence or absence of a fault at each of the plurality of priority level, and
responsive to one or more of detection of a new fault and clearing of an existing fault, update the defect indication variable accordingly based on a corresponding priority level of the new fault or the existing fault; and
determining, by comparing the updated defect indication variable with a previously stored defect indication variable, whether the highest priority fault indicated by the defect indication variable has changed due to the update, and responsive to determining the highest priority fault has changed, transmitting a notification identifying the highest priority fault currently active.
9 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the instructions that, when executed, further cause the network element to
clear a bit in the defect indication variable when a corresponding fault at a given priority level of the bit is cleared.
10 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of priority levels include at least five levels.
11 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the defect indication variable having more than one bit set indicates a plurality of faults at different priority levels of the plurality of priority levels.
12 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the instructions that, when executed, further cause the network element to
responsive to a new fault, detect a first occurrence of a fault in the defect indication variable, and
check whether the first occurrence is at a same priority level of the new fault, and if so, take no action, otherwise raise an alarm for the new fault.
13 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the defect indication variable is utilized in place of a MAdefectIndication variable.
14 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of priority levels include
a first priority level for tracking cross-connect Continuity Check Message (CCM) faults, a second level for tracking error CCM faults, a third priority level for tracking Remote Maintenance End Point (RMEP) CCM faults, a fourth priority level for tracking Media Access Control (MAC) status faults, and a fifth priority level for tracking Remote Defect Indication (RDI) faults.
15 . A method comprising steps of:
tracking faults in the Connectivity Fault Management (CFM) via a defect indication variable that includes multiple bits wherein each bit represents one or more of a certain priority level of a plurality of priority levels and a reserved value, wherein the defect indication variable comprises a variable that individually signifies the existence or absence of a fault at each of the plurality of priority level, and
responsive to one or more of detection of a new fault and clearing of an existing fault, updating the defect indication variable accordingly based on a corresponding priority level of the new fault or the existing fault; and
determining, by comparing the updated defect indication variable with a previously stored defect indication variable, whether the highest priority fault indicated by the defect indication variable has changed due to the update, and responsive to determining the highest priority fault has changed, transmitting a notification identifying the highest priority fault currently active.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the steps further include
clearing a bit in the defect indication variable when a corresponding fault at a given priority level of the bit is cleared.
17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of priority levels include at least five levels.
18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the defect indication variable having more than one bit set indicates a plurality of faults at different priority levels of the plurality of priority levels.
19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the steps further include
responsive to a new fault, detecting a first occurrence of a fault in the defect indication variable, and
checking whether the first occurrence is at a same priority level of the new fault, and if so, taking no action, otherwise raising an alarm for the new fault.
20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the defect indication variable is utilized in place of a MAdefectIndication variable.