Patent · US Expired

Method and system for testing a layer-2 tunnel in a data communication network

US6473798B1 · kind B1 · utility

31Cited by
11References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 15, 1998
Grant dateOct 29, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 15, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04L63/162
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method and system for testing a Layer 2 tunnel in a data communication network including a network device and a network manager are described. According to the method, a test invocation is received from the network manager at the network device. In response to receipt of the test invocation at the network device, a Layer 2 tunnel within the data communication network is tested, and a result of the test is reported to the network manager. The tests that may be conducted include a connectivity test to determine if a Layer 2 tunnel can be established and a responsiveness test to determine the propagation time of a Layer 2 tunnel. Advantageously, both compulsory and voluntary Layer-2 tunnels can be tested, thereby enabling all Layer 2 protocols (e.g., L2TP, L2F, and PPTP) to be supported.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.