Patent ID: 9660896
Date: 2017-05-23
CPC Classifications: H04L

Claim:
1. A method of determining the presence of a loopback in one or more networks, comprising: storing information related to a test instance, wherein said stored information related to said test instance is in a protocol data unit (PDU) that includes a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) signature; sending a loopback detection beacon (LPDB) containing said stored information related to said test instance from a port on an originating device; monitoring said port for a predetermined time period to detect LPDBs arriving at said port during said predetermined time period; determining whether a detected LPDB contains information corresponding to said stored information related to said test instance, to detect the presence of a loopback; and determining that said detected loopback is a tunnel loopback if said detected LPDB contains information including said VLAN signature.