System and methods of installing and operating devices without explicit network addresses

1. A method of discovering addressing information of one or more first devices to respond to specific messages by a second device on behalf of the one or more first devices in a network, the method comprising:

acquiring, by a second device not having a network address, addressing information in an upstream direction from one or more third devices to the one or more first devices;

acquiring, by the second device, addressing information in a downstream direction from the one or more first devices to the one or more third devices; and

responding, by the second device on behalf of the one or more first devices, to specific messages that include requests for functions that the one or more first devices are unable to perform.

2. A method of discovering addressing information of one or more first devices to respond to specific messages by a second device on behalf of the one or more first devices in a network, the method comprising:

pre-programming a second device with test packets that include addressing information in an upstream direction for the one or more first devices in each test packet;

using upstream test packets for triggering one of the one or more first devices to respond with a packet including the addressing information in a downstream direction to one of one or more third devices from one of the one or more first devices; and

responding to specific messages including requests for functions that the one or more first devices are unable to perform using the included addressing information about one of the one or more first devices.

3. A system of discovering addressing information of one or more first devices to respond to specific messages by a second device on behalf of the one or more first devices-in a network, the system comprising:

at least one third device coupled to a first processor;

at least one first device coupled to a second processor; and

a second device coupled to a third processor, the second device located between the at least one third device and the at least one first device,

wherein the second device is configured to acquire addressing information in an upstream direction from the at least one third device and in a downstream direction from the at least one first device in order for the second device to respond on behalf of the at least one first device to the specific messages including requests for functions that the at least one first device is unable to perform.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the acquiring of the addressing information in the upstream direction includes:

transmitting, by one of the one or more third devices, a packet with a frame to one of the one or more upstream devices;

receiving, by the second device, the packet with the frame;

inspecting, by the second device, the packet with the frame;

storing, by the second device, labels, IDs and/or other useful information for one of the one or more first devices in the upstream direction;

transmitting, by the second device, the packet with the frame to one of the one or more first devices; and

receiving, by one of the one or more first devices, the packet with the frame.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the acquiring of the addressing information in the downstream direction includes:

transmitting, by one of the one or more first devices, a packet with a frame, to one of the one or more third devices;

receiving, by the second device, the packet with the frame;

inspecting, by the second device, the packet with the frame;

storing, by the second device, labels, IDs and/or other relevant information for one of the one or more first devices in the downstream direction;

transmitting, by the second device, the packet with the frame, to one of the one or more third devices; and

receiving, by one of the one or more third devices, the packet with the frame.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the one or more third devices is a testing unit, a router or a remote node that is local or external to a subnet where the second device is located.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the one or more first devices is a router or a remote node that is local or external to a subnet where the second device is located.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second device incorporates a field programmable gate array (FPGA).

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second device incorporates an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second device is in a tunnel of interest.

11. The method of claim 2 , wherein the pre-programming the second device with test packets that includes addressing information in the upstream direction for the one or more first devices comprises:

providing via configuration or other means, addressing information about labels or IDs needed to address each of the one or more first devices from the second device.

12. The method of claim 2 , wherein the acquiring of the addressing information in the downstream direction includes:

transmitting, by the second device, a first packet with a first frame to a first device using a pre-programmed test packet,

receiving, by one of the one or more first device, the first packet with the first frame,

transmitting, by one of the one or more first devices, a second packet with a second frame, to one of the one or more third devices,

receiving, by the second device, the second packet with the second frame,

inspecting, by the second device, the second packet with the second frame,

storing, by the second device, labels, IDs and/or other useful information for one of the one or more first device in the downstream direction,

discarding the second packet from the second device.

13. The method of claim 2 , wherein responding to specific messages using the acquired addressing information about the one or more first devices comprises:

transmitting, by one of the one or more third devices, a Service Operations Administration and Maintenance (SOAM) packet to the second device acting on behalf of one of the one or more first devices;

receiving, by the second device, the SOAM packet including a SOAM function to be performed by the second device;

inspecting, by the second device, the SOAM packet;

performing, by the second device, the SOAM function requested in the packet;

transmitting, by the second device, to one of the one or more third devices, a SOAM response packet using the addressing information about one of the one or more first devices previously gathered by the second device during inspection; and

receiving, by one of the one or more third devices, a valid SOAM response in the packet.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the SOAM function includes monitoring network traffic and diagnosing issues, performing remote in-service layer 1-4 loopback, performance testing and monitoring actual customer and network statistics via a management interface.

15. The method of claim 2 , wherein one of the one or more third devices is a testing unit, a router or a remote node that is local or external to a subnet where the second device is located.

16. The method of claim 2 , wherein one of the one or more first devices is a router or a remote node that is local or external to a subnet where the second device is located.

17. The method of claim 2 , wherein the second device incorporates a field programmable gate array (FPGA).

18. The method of claim 2 , wherein the second device incorporates an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

19. The method of claim 2 , wherein the second device is in a tunnel of interest.

20. The system of claim 3 , wherein acquiring of the addressing information in the upstream direction includes:

transmitting, by the at least one third device, a packet with a frame to the at least one first device;

receiving, by the second device, the packet with the frame;

inspecting, by the second device, the packet with the frame;

storing, by the second device, labels, IDs and/or other useful information for the at least one first device in the upstream direction;

transmitting, by the second device, the packet with the frame to the at least one first device; and

receiving, by the at least one first device, the packet with the frame.

21. The system of claim 3 , wherein the acquiring of the addressing information in the downstream direction includes:

transmitting, by the at least one first device, a packet with a frame, to the at least one third device;

receiving, by the second device, the packet with the frame;

inspecting, by the second device, the packet with the frame;

storing, by the second device, labels, IDs and/or other relevant information for the at least one first device in the downstream direction;

transmitting, by the second device, the packet with the frame, to the at least one third device; and

receiving, by the at least one third device, the packet with the frame.

22. The system of claim 3 , wherein responding to specific messages using the acquired addressing information about first devices includes:

transmitting, by the at least one third device, a Service Operations Administration and Maintenance (SOAM) packet to the second device acting on behalf of the at least one first device;

receiving, by the second device, the SOAM packet including a SOAM function to be performed by the second device;

inspecting, by the second device, the SOAM packet;

performing, by the second device, the SOAM function requested in the packet,

transmitting, by the second device, to the at least one third device, a SOAM response packet using the addressing information about the at least one first device previously gathered by the second device during inspection; and

receiving, by the at least one third device, a valid SOAM response in the packet.

23. The system of claim 22 , wherein the SOAM function includes monitoring network traffic and diagnosing issues, performing remote in-service layer 1-4 loopback, performance testing or monitoring actual customer and network statistics via a management interface.