Synonymous labels

1. A method, comprising:

at an electronic device in a system including routers to forward network traffic originated at the electronic device through a network using label switched path forwarding, wherein the network traffic includes packets, at least a portion of the packets include a stack, and each stack includes one or more previously allocated labels used for the label switched path forwarding:

sending to a responder in the network a first control message including a field set to indicate that the control message is a request for synonymous labels used to trigger actions in the routers to implement monitoring of the network traffic, the first control message further including a requested lifetime for the synonymous labels;

receiving from the responder in response to the request a second control message including a field set to indicate the second control message is a response to the request, synonymous labels allocated by the responder, and a lifetime over which the synonymous labels are able to be used, and after which the synonymous labels are not allowed to be used;

determining whether a specific packet of the network traffic is to be monitored in the network;

if the specific packet is to be monitored:

determining a synonymous label among the synonymous labels that triggers an action in the routers to implement the monitoring; and

replacing a label among the one or more previously allocated labels in the stack of the specific packet with the synonymous label as determined; and

if the specific packet is not to be monitored, not replacing the label.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein each control message further indicates a session identifier.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein each control message further indicates a protocol version.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the synonymous label identifies a source of the specific packet.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining packet loss related to a subset of packets in the network traffic, wherein each packet in the subset of packets includes the synonymous label.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the packet loss is determined using RFC 6374 procedures and protocol mechanisms.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

examining at least a portion of the network traffic that includes the packets to identify the synonymous label.

8. Logic encoded in one or more non-transitory tangible media that includes code for execution and when executed by a processor of an electronic device in a system including routers to forward network traffic originated at the electronic device through a network using label switched path forwarding, wherein the network traffic includes packets, at least a portion of the packets include a stack, and at least a portion of each stack includes one or more previously allocated labels used for the label switched path forwarding, the logic operable to perform operations comprising:

sending to a responder in the network a first control message including a field set to indicate that the control message is a request for synonymous labels used to trigger actions in the routers to implement monitoring of the network traffic, the first control message further including a requested lifetime for the synonymous labels;

receiving from the responder in response to the request a second control message including a field set to indicate the second control message is a response to the request, synonymous labels allocated by the responder, and a lifetime over which the synonymous labels are able to be used, and after which the synonymous labels are not allowed to be used;

determining whether a specific packet of the network traffic is to be monitored in the network;

if the specific packet is to be monitored:

determining a synonymous label among the synonymous labels that triggers an action in the routers to implement the monitoring; and

replacing a label among the one or more previously allocated labels in the stack of the specific packet with the synonymous label as determined; and

if the specific packet is not to be monitored, not replacing the label.

9. The logic of claim 8 , wherein the stack is not further modified.

10. The logic of claim 8 , wherein the synonymous label identifies a subset of packets in the network traffic.

11. The logic of claim 8 , wherein the synonymous label identifies a source of the specific packet.

12. The logic of claim 11 , further comprising:

determining packet loss related to a subset of packets in the network traffic, wherein each packet in the subset of packets includes the synonymous label.

13. The logic of claim 12 , wherein the packet loss is determined using RFC 6374 procedures and protocol mechanisms.

14. An apparatus, comprising:

a memory element configured to store data,

a processor operable to execute instructions associated with the data, and

configured to:

originate network traffic in a system including routers to forward the network traffic through a network using label switched path forwarding, wherein the network traffic includes packets, at least a portion of the packets include a stack, and each stack includes one or more previously allocated labels used for the label switched path forwarding;

send to a responder in the network a first control message including a field set to indicate that the control message is a request for synonymous labels used to trigger actions in the routers to implement monitoring of the network traffic, the first control message further including a requested lifetime for the synonymous labels;

receive from the responder in response to the request a second control message including a field set to indicate the second control message is a response to the request, synonymous labels allocated by the responder, and a lifetime over which the synonymous labels are able to be used, and after which the synonymous labels are not allowed to be used;

determine whether a specific packet of the network traffic is to be monitored in the network;

if the specific packet is to be monitored:

determine a synonymous label among the synonymous labels that triggers an action in the routers to implement the monitoring; and

replace a label among the one or more previously allocated labels in the stack of the specific packet with the synonymous label as determined; and

if the specific packet is not to be monitored, not replace the label.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the stack is not further modified.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the synonymous label identifies a subset of packets in the network traffic.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine packet loss related to a subset of packets in the network traffic, wherein each packet in the subset of packets includes the synonymous label.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the packet loss is determined using RFC 6374 procedures and protocol mechanisms.

19. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

replace a label from the one of the one or more previously allocated labels of a plurality of specific packets with the synonymous label.

20. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein each control message further indicates a session identifier.