Patent ID: 7046928

Claim:
A method for operating a first node in a data communication network to verify connectivity to a second node in said data communication network, said method comprising: sending a request for verification of connectivity to said second node, said request for verification of connectivity identifying an IP address of said first node and an IP address of said second node, said request for verification of connectivity further identifying a port of said first node; toggling a signal emitted by said port of said first node; notifying said second node of a toggling mode of said port to facilitate connectivity verification; and receiving a first message from said second node indicating whether said second node detected said toggling, said request for verification of connectivity identifying said first node being sent on a control channel via a control message separate from said signal and said first message being sent on said control channel, wherein if said first message indicates that said second node detected said toggling, said first message identifies a wavelength which the second node assigns the port.