Patent ID: 8774010
Filing Date: 2014-07-08
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method, comprising: communicating a request packet from an originating network element to a first next hop network element, wherein the request packet is associated with a request for a list of MAC addresses; receiving a response to the request; communicating a test packet to initiate fault monitoring, wherein the test packet is communicated to a second next hop network element and the test packet includes at least one of the MAC addresses provided by the first next hop network element; and receiving a plurality of fault monitoring results, wherein the results are limited to reflect results of monitoring multiple paths between the originating network element and the second hop network element and associated with the first next hop network element; wherein the fault monitoring comprises at least one of detecting, isolating, and correcting a malfunction in the multiple paths between the originating network element and the second hop network element and associated with the first next hop network element; and wherein the originating network element and the second next hop network element are connected via a plurality of paths through the first hop network element and the test packet is communicated using equal cost multipath (“ECMP”) routing.