Abstract: The invention provides an improved management of network devices in a communication network by extending the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), which provides an effective identifying of the Management Client originating a request and sends rich textual status and error responses from the network device.

Abstract: The invention provides a method which involves inserting probe packets on a per service basis for transmission on a respective round trip; and for each service using the probe packets to calculate packet latency for probe packets which is representative of packet latency for all packets transmitted for the service. In some embodiments, data plane time stamps are used to accurately time probe latency. The invention also provides a method which involves inserting probe packets on a per service basis for transmission on a respective destination network element; and at the destination network element for a given service using the probe packets to calculate one way packet loss for the service.

Abstract: Methods, systems, computer readable media are provided which facilitate the selection of multiple paths through a network represented by a network topology which take into account shared risk which may exist between network resources. The method involves identifying a first path through the network topology from a source node to a destination node, the first path comprising a first sequence of network resources. For at least one shared risk group, a determination is made if any of the at least one shared risk group includes any of the first sequence of network resources, a shared risk group being a group of network resources within the network topology which have a shared risk. A topology transformation is performed of the network topology into a virtual topology which discourages the use of network resources in any shared risk group determined. A second path through the virtual topology is identified from the source node to the destination.

Abstract: The invention provides a method which involves inserting probe packets on a per service basis for transmission on a respective round trip; and for each service using the probe packets to calculate packet latency for probe packets which is representative of packet latency for all packets transmitted for the service. In some embodiments, data plane time stamps are used to accurately time probe latency. The invention also provides a method which involves inserting probe packets on a per service basis for transmission on a respective destination network element; and at the destination network element for a given service using the probe packets to calculate one way packet loss for the service.