Patent ID: 9137101
Filing Date: 2015-09-15
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. In a network switching environment having a switch fabric of forwarding entities, the forwarding entities including routers having an assigned network identifiers and bridges having static device identifiers, a method for transmitting diagnostic messages comprising: receiving a Layer 3 (L3) network identifier corresponding to a destination entity to which a diagnostic path evaluation is requested, the network identifier identifying a network entity reachable by the path; determining a Layer 2 (L2) device identifier corresponding to a forwarding entity defining a next hop on the path, wherein determining the next hop device identifier comprises: transmitting only a single diagnostic message addressed to the determined device identifier for receiving a return message indicative of continuity of the path to the forwarding entity; and determining, based on received return messages, whether continuity exists on the path to the network entity.