Abstract: A method includes detecting, by a first network device, a configuration problem at a second network device, where the first and second network devices are associated with a link aggregation group (LAG) coupling the first and second network devices. The method also includes de-activating, by the first network device, one or more links in the LAG in response to detecting the configuration problem. The method further comprises maintaining at least one of the links in the LAG as an active link and allowing traffic to be forwarded on the active link in the LAG.

Abstract: A method includes generating, by a first network device, test traffic to be transmitted to a second network device. The first and second network devices are coupled via a number of communication links, where one of links is a backup link. The method also includes transmitting, by the first network device, the test traffic to the second network device at periodic intervals via the backup link, receiving, by the second network device, the test traffic and monitoring the received test traffic. The method further includes comparing the monitored test traffic to a threshold, determining whether the monitored test traffic meets the threshold, and generating an alarm or notification message, in response to determining that the monitored test traffic does not meet the threshold.

Abstract: A method includes monitoring, by a first network device, traffic from a customer device, wherein the traffic is to be forwarded via a provider's network. The method also includes identifying a traffic pattern associated with the traffic, identifying a link on which the identified traffic pattern was transmitted and generating performance monitoring traffic. The method further includes forwarding, by the first network device, the performance monitoring traffic to the provider's network via the link on which the identified traffic pattern was transmitted.

Abstract: A method includes generating, by a first network device, test traffic to be transmitted to a second network device. The first and second network devices are coupled via a number of communication links, where one of links is a backup link. The method also includes transmitting, by the first network device, the test traffic to the second network device at periodic intervals via the backup link, receiving, by the second network device, the test traffic and monitoring the received test traffic. The method further includes comparing the monitored test traffic to a threshold, determining whether the monitored test traffic meets the threshold, and generating an alarm or notification message, in response to determining that the monitored test traffic does not meet the threshold.

Abstract: A device serving as a fiber optic cable dummy connector is provided. The device may have connection ports to accept the connectors terminating a fiber optic cable, such as LC-type connectors, or other configurations. The device may be used instead of an actual SFP module for connection of the fiber optic cable to a port on a piece of equipment. The device may be made opaque so that no transmission or receipt of data or light (laser) from the fiber optic cable may pass through the device. The device may be manufactured to be one-half the length of an actual SFP module. The device may be manufactured from any suitable material. The device may be used in place of using an actual SFP module. The dummy connector may be used in place of coiling fiber optic cables and leaving them unconnected until they are needed.

Abstract: A root node associated with an Ethernet-Tree (E-Tree) service sends, over a rooted-multipoint Ethernet virtual connection (EVC), a performance monitoring (PM) packet, where the PM packet includes a unique identifier for the root node and a time sent by the root node. The root node receives, from leaf nodes and a root point associated with the E-Tree service, PM response packets, where each PM response packet includes a unique identifier for the responding leaf node/root point and a time received by the responding leaf node/root point. The root node extracts, from each of the PM response packets, the unique identifier and the time received, and stores performance measurements based on the extracted data, where the performance measurements are associated with the respective leaf nodes/root point.

Abstract: A method includes detecting, by a first network device, a configuration problem at a second network device, where the first and second network devices are associated with a link aggregation group (LAG) coupling the first and second network devices. The method also includes de-activating, by the first network device, one or more links in the LAG in response to detecting the configuration problem. The method further comprises maintaining at least one of the links in the LAG as an active link and allowing traffic to be forwarded on the active link in the LAG.

Abstract: A device serving as a fiber optic cable dummy connector is provided. The device may have connection ports to accept the connectors terminating a fiber optic cable, such as LC-type connectors, or other configurations. The device may be used instead of an actual SFP module for connection of the fiber optic cable to a port on a piece of equipment. The device may be made opaque so that no transmission or receipt of data or light (laser) from the fiber optic cable may pass through the device. The device may be manufactured to be one-half the length of an actual SFP module. The device may be manufactured from any suitable material. The device may be used in place of using an actual SFP module. The dummy connector may be used in place of coiling fiber optic cables and leaving them unconnected until they are needed.

Abstract: A method includes detecting, by a first network device, a configuration problem at a second network device, where the first and second network devices are associated with a link aggregation group (LAG) coupling the first and second network devices. The method also includes de-activating, by the first network device, one or more links in the LAG in response to detecting the configuration problem. The method further comprises maintaining at least one of the links in the LAG as an active link and allowing traffic to be forwarded on the active link in the LAG.

Abstract: A method includes monitoring, by a first network device, traffic from a customer device, wherein the traffic is to be forwarded via a provider's network. The method also includes identifying a traffic pattern associated with the traffic, identifying a link on which the identified traffic pattern was transmitted and generating performance monitoring traffic. The method further includes forwarding, by the first network device, the performance monitoring traffic to the provider's network via the link on which the identified traffic pattern was transmitted.

Abstract: A device to serve as a fiber optic cable dummy connector is provided. The device may be have connection ports to accept the connectors terminating a fiber optic cable, such as LC-type connectors. Other configurations may be possible. The device may be used in place of an actual SFP module for connection of the fiber optic cable to a port on a piece of equipment. The device may be made opaque so that no transmission or receipt of data or light (laser) from the fiber optic cable may pass through the device. The device may be manufactured to be one-half the length of an actual SFP module. The device may be manufactured from any suitable material. The device may be used to plug fiber optic cables, inactive or active, into ports on a piece of equipment, in place of using an actual SFP module. The dummy connector may be used in place of coiling fiber optic cables and leaving them unconnected until they may be needed.

Abstract: A root node associated with an Ethernet-Tree (E-Tree) service sends, over a rooted-multipoint Ethernet virtual connection (EVC), a performance monitoring (PM) packet, where the PM packet includes a unique identifier for the root node and a time sent by the root node. The root node receives, from leaf nodes and a root point associated with the E-Tree service, PM response packets, where each PM response packet includes a unique identifier for the responding leaf node/root point and a time received by the responding leaf node/root point. The root node extracts, from each of the PM response packets, the unique identifier and the time received, and stores performance measurements based on the extracted data, where the performance measurements are associated with the respective leaf nodes/root point.

Abstract: A method includes detecting, by a first network device, a configuration problem at a second network device, where the first and second network devices are associated with a link aggregation group (LAG) coupling the first and second network devices. The method also includes de-activating, by the first network device, one or more links in the LAG in response to detecting the configuration problem. The method further comprises maintaining at least one of the links in the LAG as an active link and allowing traffic to be forwarded on the active link in the LAG.

Abstract: A device to serve as a fiber optic cable dummy connector is provided. The device may be have connection ports to accept the connectors terminating a fiber optic cable, such as LC-type connectors. Other configurations may be possible. The device may be used in place of an actual SFP module for connection of the fiber optic cable to a port on a piece of equipment. The device may be made opaque so that no transmission or receipt of data or light (laser) from the fiber optic cable may pass through the device. The device may be manufactured to be one-half the length of an actual SFP module. The device may be manufactured from any suitable material. The device may be used to plug fiber optic cables, inactive or active, into ports on a piece of equipment, in place of using an actual SFP module. The dummy connector may be used in place of coiling fiber optic cables and leaving them unconnected until they may be needed.