Patent ID: 8233378

Claim:
A computer implemented method on a first one of a plurality of provider edge network elements in a virtual private LAN service (VPLS) network detecting a data plane fault on a second one of the plurality of provider edge network elements in the VPLS network, comprising: negotiating with the second provider edge network element a pseudowire which is uniquely identifiable between the first and second provider edge network element with a pseudowire identifier, wherein the pseudowire communicatively couples the first provider edge network element with the second provider edge network element; receiving from the second provider edge network element one or more OAM (operations, administration, and management) packets over the pseudowire each including a pseudowire identifier; and responsive to determining that at least one of the OAM packets received on the pseudowire does not include the pseudowire identifier associated with the pseudowire, determining that a data plane fault exists on the second provider edge network element and the data plane fault is associated with the pseudowire.