Multi-protocol support over Ethernet packet-switched networks
View Patent ↗Described are methods and communications network for carrying pseudowires over packet-switched network. A communication network includes a packet-switched network (PSN), a first provider edge (PE) device in communication with a second PE device through the PSN, and a pseudowire (PW) established between the PE devices for emulating a service across the PSN. The PW has a Virtual Circuit Connection Verification (VCCV) control channel that carries an Ethernet Operations, Administration, and Maintenance (OAM) message. In some embodiments, various data plane encapsulation formats enable a PW to emulate an Ethernet or a non-Ethernet service over an Ethernet PSN. Each encapsulation format includes an Ethernet tunnel header and a PW header that encapsulates an Ethernet or non-Ethernet payload.
1. A communications network comprising:
a packet-switched network (PSN);
a first provider edge (PE) device in communication with a second PE device through the PSN; and
a pseudowire (PW) established between the PE devices for emulating a service across the PSN, the PW having a Virtual Circuit Connection Verification (VCCV) control channel that carries an Ethernet Operations, Administration, and Maintenance (OAM) message.
2. The communications network of claim 1 , wherein the VCCV control channel includes a VCCV payload having an Ethernet OAM packet data unit (PDU).
3. The communications network of claim 2 , wherein the Ethernet OAM PDU includes an opcode that determines a type of the Ethernet OAM message.
4. The communications network of claim 2 , wherein the Ethernet OAM PDU includes a first field for a backbone Media Access Control source address (B-MAC SA) and a second field for a backbone MAC destination address (B-MAC DA).
5. The communications network of claim 4 , wherein the B-MAC SA field can signify a unicast address of a transmitting Maintenance End Point (MEP).
6. The communications network of claim 4 , wherein the B-MAC DA field can signify an OAM-specific multicast or unicast address.
7. The communications network of claim 2 , wherein the Ethernet OAM PDU includes a field for specifying a Maintenance Entity Level (MEL).
8. A method of verifying connectivity of a pseudowire (PW) through a packet-switched network (PSN), the method comprising:
establishing a pseudowire through the PSN between a first provider edge (PE) device and a second PE device;
providing a Virtual Circuit Connection Verification (VCCV) control channel in the PW; and
carrying an Ethernet Operations, Administration, and Maintenance (OAM) message in the VCCV control channel.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the VCCV control channel includes a VCCV payload with an Ethernet OAM packet data unit (PDU).
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the Ethernet OAM PDU includes an opcode that determines a type of the Ethernet OAM message.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the Ethernet OAM PDU includes a first field for a backbone Media Access Control source address (B-MAC SA) and a second field for a backbone MAC destination address (B-MAC DA).
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the B-MAC SA field can signify a unicast address of a transmitting Maintenance Entity Group End Point (MEP).
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the B-MAC DA field can signify an OAM-specific multicast or unicast address.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the B-MAC DA field and the B-MAC SA field can each signify an dummy address.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the Ethernet OAM PDU includes a field for specifying a Maintenance Entity Level (MEL).
16. A network element, comprising:
a pseudowire (PW) processor placing an Ethernet Operations, Administration, and Management (OAM) message within a Virtual Circuit Connection Verification (VCCV) control channel of a PW and encapsulating the Ethernet OAM message in a PW header; and
a packet-switched network (PSN) processor encapsulating the PW header with the Ethernet OAM message in a tunnel header for forwarding across a packet-switched network.
17. The network element of claim 16 , wherein the VCCV control channel includes a VCCV payload having an Ethernet OAM packet data unit (PDU).
18. The network element of claim 17 , wherein the Ethernet OAM PDU includes an opcode that determines a type of the Ethernet OAM message.
19. The network element of claim 17 , wherein the Ethernet OAM PDU includes a first field for a backbone Media Access Control source address (B-MAC SA) and a second field for a backbone MAC destination address (B-MAC DA).
20. The network element of claim 19 , wherein the B-MAC SA field can signify a unicast address of a transmitting Maintenance End Point (MEP).
21. The network element of claim 19 , wherein the B-MAC DA field can signify an OAM-specific multicast or unicast address.
22. The network element of claim 19 , wherein the B-MAC DA field and the B-MAC SA field can each signify an dummy address.
23. The network element of claim 17 , wherein the Ethernet OAM PDU includes a field for specifying a Maintenance Entity Level (MEL).