Patent ID: 7512141

Claim:
A domain configuration method operable in an Ethernet network having multiple levels of Operations, Administration and Maintenance (OAM) domains, comprising: configuring a port of a first end bridge in said Ethernet network as a first Maintenance End Point (MEP) node belonging to a predetermined OAM domain having a particular level; transmitting a first set of frames from said first MEP node towards remaining ports of said first end bridge and remaining bridges of said Ethernet network, said first set of frames including level information relating to said particular level; configuring a port of a second end bridge in said Ethernet network as a second Maintenance End Point (MEP) node belonging to said predetermined OAM domain having said particular level; transmitting a second set of frames from said second MEP node towards remaining ports of said second end bridge and remaining bridges of said Ethernet network, said second set of frames including level information relating to said particular level; and responsive to said first and second set of frames, configuring ports in bridges disposed between said first and second end bridges as Maintenance Intermediate Point (MIP) nodes having said particular level.