PPP terminating equipment, network equipment and method of responding to LCP echo requirement

1. A device comprising:

means for receiving a first packet;

means for determining whether the first packet is a Link Control Protocol (LCP) echo requirement packet and for producing a first response packet, including:

means for rewriting an LCP header of the first packet if the first packet is an LCP echo requirement packet, wherein rewriting designates the device as a destination, and

means for establishing an LCP echo response flag in the LCP header when

the first packet is an LCP echo requirement packet;

means for transmitting the first response packet to a switch fabric;

means for receiving a second packet from the switch fabric;

means for determining if the LCP echo response flag is established in the second packet and for producing a second response packet by rewriting the LCP header of the second packet when the LCP echo response flag is determined to be established in the second packet; and

means for transmitting the second response packet to a response destination of the first packet.

2. A device as in claim 1 , wherein the means for producing a second response packet changes a value of a CODE field of the LCP header of the second packet from “ 9 ” into “ 10 ” when rewriting the LCP header of the second packet.

3. A method comprising:

receiving a first packet at a network device;

determining whether the first packet is a Link Control Protocol (LCP) echo requirement packet and producing a first response packet, including:

rewriting an LCP header of the first packet if the first packet is an LCP echo requirement packet, wherein rewriting the LCP header designates the device as a destination, and

establishing an LCP echo response flag in the LCP header when the first packet is an LCP echo requirement packet;

transmitting the first response packet to a switch fabric;

receiving a second packet from the switch fabric;

determining if the LCP echo response flag is established in the second packet;

producing a second response packet by rewriting the LCP header of the second packet when the LCP echo response flag is determined to be established in the second packet; and

transmitting the second response packet to a response destination of the first packet.

4. A method as in claim 3 , wherein rewriting the LCP header of the second packet includes changing a value of CODE field of the LCP header of the second packet from “ 9 ” into “ 10 .”

5. A router comprising:

a first section configured to receive a first packet;

a second section configured to determine whether the first packet is a Link Control Protocol (LCP) echo requirement packet and to produce a first response packet when the first packet is a LCP echo requirement packet, the second section establishes an echo response flag when the first packet is determined to be an LCP echo requirement packet;

a third section configured to transmit the first response packet to a switch fabric;

a fourth section configured to receive a second packet from the switch fabric;

a fifth section configured to determine if the LCP echo response flag is established in the second packet and to produce a second response packet by converting the second packet into the second response packet when the LCP echo response flag is determined to be established in the second packet; and

a sixth section configured to transmit the second response packet to a response destination of the first packet.

6. A router as in claim 5 , wherein the fifth section changes a value of a CODE field of the LCP header of the second packet from “ 9 ” into “ 10 ” when converting the second packet into the second response packet.