Abstract: A method and system for Ethernet loopback detection snoops an egress frame at a UNI-N edge device and records at least one source field of the egress frame, such as a MAC address or a VLAN tag. Ingress frames at the UNI-N edge device are monitored for having the same value in the source field as the egress frame. When an ingress frame has the same source field value as the egress frame, the ingress frame is identified as a loopback frame and is dropped at the UNI-N edge device.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for detection of unauthorized entities in communication systems. The method includes obtaining a secret string by a first network element and generating a random number by the first network element. The method also includes computing a first cryptographic result by the first network element. The first cryptographic result is based on a cryptographic function, the secret string, and the random number. The method further includes attempting to transmit, by the first network element, a first packet that includes the random number to a second network element using a layer 2 packet terminating protocol. The method includes receiving, within a configured time, a second packet including a second cryptographic result at the first network element, and terminating transmission to the second network element when a second cryptographic result is different from the first cryptographic result.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for detection of unauthorized entities in communication systems. The method includes obtaining a secret string by a first network element and generating a random number by the first network element. The method also includes computing a first cryptographic result by the first network element. The first cryptographic result is based on a cryptographic function, the secret string, and the random number. The method further includes attempting to transmit, by the first network element, a first packet that includes the random number to a second network element using a layer 2 packet terminating protocol. The method includes receiving, within a configured time, a second packet including a second cryptographic result at the first network element, and terminating transmission to the second network element when a second cryptographic result is different from the first cryptographic result.

Abstract: A method and system for Ethernet loopback detection snoops an egress frame at a UNI-N edge device and records at least one source field of the egress frame, such as a MAC address or a VLAN tag. Ingress frames at the UNI-N edge device are monitored for having the same value in the source field as the egress frame. When an ingress frame has the same source field value as the egress frame, the ingress frame is identified as a loopback frame and is dropped at the UNI-N edge device.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method may include communicating an alarm suppression indication trigger message from a maintenance end point to an alarm indication suppression generator. The method may further include communicating, by the alarm indication suppression generator in response to receiving the alarm indication trigger message, an alarm indication suppression message to at least one flow point that has alarm indication suppression enabled for the maintenance end point such that the alarm indication suppression message is received by at least one other maintenance end point upstream of the maintenance end point.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method may include a given maintenance end point receiving connectivity fault management (CFM) messages (e.g., CCMs) at the provisioned maintenance level of the maintenance end point. Additionally the method may also include snooping CFM messages at maintenance levels higher the provisioned maintenance level of the given maintenance end point and storing the configuration information necessary for transmitting alarm indication suppression message from the lowest higher-level CFM message snooped across the maintenance end point. The method may further include a timeout of the stored information if transmission of the higher-level CFM messages cease. The method may include snooping these higher-level CFM messages in either direction and also include the ability to display the higher-level CFM information to an operator through a user-interface.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method may include detecting existence of an alarm-triggering event associated with a service at a maintenance level. The method may also include analyzing one or more parameters associated with carrier traffic for the service. The method may additionally include determining whether a data path for carrier traffic associated with the service is operational based on the analysis of the one or more parameters. The method may further include masking or downgrading an alarm triggered by the alarm-triggering event in response to a determination that the data path is operational.

Abstract: A method and system for masking defects within a network are disclosed. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a method for masking defects within a network comprises detecting by a service entity defects within a network. The method further comprises determining a number of detected defects associated with a network component included in the network. The method further comprises generating by the network component a summary alarm if the number of detected defects within the network is greater than a first threshold.

Abstract: A method and system for reporting defects within a network are disclosed. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a method for reporting defects within a network comprises generating a summary alarm by a network element based on defects detected within a network. The method further comprises receiving at the network element a first request for the detected defects within the network from a network management system in response to generation of the summary alarm. The method further comprises reporting the detected defects by the network element in response to the first request from the network management system.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method may include detecting an occurrence of a fault for a component of a network element having a maintenance entity provisioned thereon. The method may further include transmitting alarm indication suppression messages to components for which the maintenance entity was configured to transmit alarm indication suppression messages in response to detecting the occurrence of the fault.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method includes configuring a plurality ports as member ports of a link aggregation group. The method also includes configuring the link aggregation group to communicate management traffic originating from a plurality of maintenance entities communicatively coupled to the link aggregation group communicate carrier traffic originating from other network elements communicatively coupled to the link aggregation group. The method further includes assigning individual maintenance entities of the plurality of maintenance entities to individual physical ports of the link aggregation group in order to balance maintenance traffic among the plurality of physical ports.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method may include detecting existence of an alarm-triggering event associated with a service at a maintenance level. The method may also include analyzing one or more parameters associated with carrier traffic for the service. The method may additionally include determining whether a data path for carrier traffic associated with the service is operational based on the analysis of the one or more parameters. The method may further include masking or downgrading an alarm triggered by the alarm-triggering event in response to a determination that the data path is operational.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method may include a given maintenance end point receiving connectivity fault management (CFM) messages (e.g., CCMs) at the provisioned maintenance level of the maintenance end point. Additionally the method may also include snooping CFM messages at maintenance levels higher the provisioned maintenance level of the given maintenance end point and storing the configuration information necessary for transmitting alarm indication suppression message from the lowest higher-level CFM message snooped across the maintenance end point. The method may further include a timeout of the stored information if transmission of the higher-level CFM messages cease. The method may include snooping these higher-level CFM messages in either direction and also include the ability to display the higher-level CFM information to an operator through a user-interface.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method may include detecting an occurrence of a fault for a component of a network element having a maintenance entity provisioned thereon. The method may further include transmitting alarm indication suppression messages to components for which the maintenance entity was configured to transmit alarm indication suppression messages in response to detecting the occurrence of the fault.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method may include communicating an alarm suppression indication trigger message from a maintenance end point to an alarm indication suppression generator. The method may further include communicating, by the alarm indication suppression generator in response to receiving the alarm indication trigger message, an alarm indication suppression message to at least one flow point that has alarm indication suppression enabled for the maintenance end point such that the alarm indication suppression message is received by at least one other maintenance end point upstream of the maintenance end point.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method includes configuring a plurality ports as member ports of a link aggregation group. The method also includes configuring the link aggregation group to communicate management traffic originating from a plurality of maintenance entities communicatively coupled to the link aggregation group communicate carrier traffic originating from other network elements communicatively coupled to the link aggregation group. The method further includes assigning individual maintenance entities of the plurality of maintenance entities to individual physical ports of the link aggregation group in order to balance maintenance traffic among the plurality of physical ports.

Abstract: A method and system for masking defects within a network are disclosed. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a method for masking defects within a network comprises detecting by a service entity defects within a network. The method further comprises determining a number of detected defects associated with a network component included in the network. The method further comprises generating by the network component a summary alarm if the number of detected defects within the network is greater than a first threshold.

Abstract: A method and system for reporting defects within a network are disclosed. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a method for reporting defects within a network comprises generating a summary alarm by a network element based on defects detected within a network. The method further comprises receiving at the network element a first request for the detected defects within the network from a network management system in response to generation of the summary alarm. The method further comprises reporting the detected defects by the network element in response to the first request from the network management system.

Abstract: A method for providing support for multiple control channels includes establishing an indirect data connection with a first network entity in an optical network. The method also includes establishing a first control channel with the first network entity. The first control channel has at least one unique source IP address. The method additionally includes transmitting a first control message to the first network entity via the first control channel. The first control message comprises a first unique source IP address.

Abstract: A method for providing support for multiple control channels includes establishing an indirect data connection with a first network entity in an optical network. The method also includes establishing a first control channel with the first network entity. The first control channel has at least one unique source IP address. The method additionally includes transmitting a first control message to the first network entity via the first control channel. The first control message comprises a first unique source IP address.