Abstract: A single-ended Ethernet management system and method are provided. The system enables a user to provision and monitor an Ethernet interface, as well as to detect and isolate faults, from a single end. The method may be executed on the system to provide Ethernet services from a first end to a second end. After the Ethernet service is established, the method monitors the service from the first end to detect an occurrence of a fault and to identify service degradation issues. If a fault occurs, the method automatically executes a fault isolation procedure to isolate a location of the fault between the first and second ends. In addition, the method may categorize one or more potential causes for the fault based on fault location or type.

Abstract: A system and method for connection performance analysis are provided. In one example, the method is for performing an end-to-end analysis of a connection coupling two service demarcation points in a network, where each of the service demarcation points includes a test traffic injector and a test traffic monitor. The example method includes injecting test traffic into the connection using the test traffic injector of one of the service demarcation points. A loopback of the test traffic received by the other service demarcation point via the connection is performed to return the traffic to the originating service demarcation point. The traffic received by the originating service demarcation point via the connection is monitored to identify the looped back test traffic.

Abstract: Provided are a system and method for time-based scheduling in a communications environment. In one example, the method includes assigning at least one token to each of multiple active queues during a predefined period of time. Each token authorizes an amount of data to be dequeued from the queue. The method also includes waiting until the end of the predefined period of time before starting a new round of assigning. At least one of the queues is nominated based on the token assigned to the queue, where the nomination authorizes the dequeuing of the amount of data from the queue. The nomination is sent to a memory system to dequeue the data and send the data to a network uplink.

Abstract: Provided are a system and method for transferring management channel information (inband or using path overhead) over a synchronous optical network (SONET). In one example using inband management information, the method includes encapsulating management information in an internet protocol (IP) packet and encapsulating the IP packet in an Ethernet frame. The Ethernet frame is tagged with a management tag to differentiate the frame from the data traffic sent via the network.

Abstract: A system and method for sensing and provisioning two or four wire mode for a communications link are provided. In one example, the method includes attempting to train a base wire pair associated with a base port for two-wire mode. If the two-wire mode training is unsuccessful, an unassigned port associated with a first wire pair is identified and the base and unassigned ports are configured for four-wire mode. An attempt is made to train the base and first wire pairs for four-wire mode. If the four-wire mode training is successful, a four-wire service is established using the base and first wire pairs.

Abstract: Provided are a system and method for many-to-many layer 2 aggregation for SONET paths in a communications environment. In one example, the method includes receiving the data unit from either a layer 2 mapped data port or a SONET path, and classifying the data unit based on information within the data unit to identify which one of multiple logical flows is associated with the data unit. Each of the logical flows connects a data port with a SONET path and vice versa, and the data ports and SONET paths do not have a one-to-one correspondence. The data unit is directed to an outgoing SONET path associated with the logical flow if the data unit was received from the data port and to an outgoing data port associated with the logical flow if the data unit was received from a SONET path.

Abstract: Provided are a system and method for transferring management channel information (inband or using path overhead) over a synchronous optical network (SONET). In one example using inband management information, the method includes encapsulating management information in an internet protocol (IP) packet and encapsulating the IP packet in an Ethernet frame. The Ethernet frame is tagged with a management tag to differentiate the frame from the data traffic sent via the network.

Abstract: Provided are a system and method for time-based scheduling in a communications environment. In one example, the method includes assigning at least one token to each of multiple active queues during a predefined period of time. Each token authorizes an amount of data to be dequeued from the queue. The method also includes waiting until the end of the predefined period of time before starting a new round of assigning. At least one of the queues is nominated based on the token assigned to the queue, where the nomination authorizes the dequeuing of the amount of data from the queue. The nomination is sent to a memory system to dequeue the data and send the data to a network uplink.