Abstract: Virtual Private Network (VPN) service status management apparatus, methods, Graphical User Interfaces, and data structures are disclosed. A service-specific status of a service site in a communication system with respect to a VPN service is managed independently of a service-specific status of the service site with respect to a different VPN service with which the service site is associated. A service site may thus have a different service-specific status in different VPN services. Management of entire VPN services is also facilitated, in that changes in the overall status of a VPN service affects service sites only in respect of that VPN service. In one embodiment, status management is accomplished through automatic manipulation of Route Targets (RTs) in VPN Routing and Forwarding (VRF) tables.

Abstract: A method for testing connectivity of virtual private networks, the virtual private networks including customer edge routers and provider edge routers, the provider edge routers belonging to a network managed by a service provider, the method comprising: displaying a list of the virtual private networks on a display screen of a network management system for the network; receiving a signal from a user to select a virtual private network from the list of the virtual private networks, the virtual private network having a topology, an import route target, and an export route target associated therewith; generating a list of operations to test connectivity of the virtual private network from the topology, the import route target, and the export route target; displaying the list of operations to the user on the display screen; receiving a signal from the user to select an operation from the list of operations, the operation having a source provider edge router and a destination provider edge network associated there

Abstract: A Packet Switch Network Link (PSNL) serves as an abstraction of a Multi-Protocol Label Switch (MPLS) core in a multi-services networking infrastructure. The networking infrastructure provides end to end connectivity between end networks that may be, for example ATM networks. The PSNL exists in a layer 2 network manager and allows a service provider to transport a customer's call over it as the same manner as it would over a physical link.