A method for detecting performance of a layer 3 virtual private network, comprising: creating, by a first node, an operation, administration, and maintenance instance of a first node according to operation, administration, and maintenance configuration information set by a user; sending, by the first node, the operation, administration, and maintenance configuration information of the first node to a second node by using a Border Gateway Protocol packet, so that the second node creates an operation, administration, and maintenance instance of the second node according to the operation, administration, and maintenance configuration information of the first node; receiving, by the first node, configuration result information from the second node, wherein the configuration result information of the second node is used to indicate whether the second node successfully creates the operation, administration, and maintenance instance of the second node according to the operation, administration, and maintenance configuration information; and when the configuration result information of the second node indicates that the second node successfully creates the operation, administration, and maintenance instance of the second node according to the operation, administration, and maintenance configuration information of the first node, performing, by the first node, operation, administration, and maintenance detection by sending an operation, administration, and maintenance packet to the second node and/or receiving an operation, administration, and maintenance packet from the second node, wherein the sending and/or receiving is implemented by using the operation, administration, and maintenance instance of the first node. creating, by a first node, an operation, administration, and maintenance instance of a first node according to operation, administration, and maintenance configuration information set by a user; sending, by the first node, the operation, administration, and maintenance configuration information of the first node to a second node by using a Border Gateway Protocol packet, so that the second node creates an operation, administration, and maintenance instance of the second node according to the operation, administration, and maintenance configuration information of the first node; receiving, by the first node, configuration result information from the second node, wherein the configuration result information of the second node is used to indicate whether the second node successfully creates the operation, administration, and maintenance instance of the second node according to the operation, administration, and maintenance configuration information; and when the configuration result information of the second node indicates that the second node successfully creates the operation, administration, and maintenance instance of the second node according to the operation, administration, and maintenance configuration information of the first node, performing, by the first node, operation, administration, and maintenance detection by sending an operation, administration, and maintenance packet to the second node and/or receiving an operation, administration, and maintenance packet from the second node, wherein the sending and/or receiving is implemented by using the operation, administration, and maintenance instance of the first node.