Patent ID: 8964563
Filing Date: 2015-02-24
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method performed by a network element implementing an OpenFlow controller, the OpenFlow controller including an operations, administration and management (OAM) module, the OAM module to service an OAM function request in a network implementing OpenFlow, the method to request that a subset of OpenFlow switches in the network report metrics for an OpenFlow data flow to provide the OAM module with information for executing the requested OAM function, the method comprising the steps of: receiving by an OAM module of the network element a request to execute the OAM function; generating a trigger monitoring message by the OAM module, the trigger monitoring message defining actions to be performed by an OpenFlow switch in the subset of OpenFlow switches, wherein the actions are to provide the metrics for the OpenFlow data flow; sending the trigger monitoring message to the OpenFlow switch; receiving a plurality of monitor response messages from the subset of OpenFlow switches, each of the plurality of monitor response messages including a metric entry for each flow table or group table in which a match for the OpenFlow data flow occurred in a given OpenFlow switch, where each metric entry includes any one of a flow table identifier, a group identifier, a match structure, or a cookie of a flow entry; correlating the plurality of monitor response messages with the OAM function request; executing the requested OAM function using the metrics of the OpenFlow data flow by the OAM module; and returning a result of the requested OAM function.