Cisco Technology, Inc.

Jonathan Parker

David Delano Ward

Reshad Rahman

David P Toscano

Sylvain Masse

In one embodiment, a local network device transmits a connectivity verification protocol control message over a link to a remote network device to attempt to establish a connectivity verification protocol session with the remote network device. In response to non-receipt of a returned connectivity verification protocol control message from the remote network device, the local network device determines that there is an inability to establish a connectivity verification protocol session with the remote network device. The local network device then sends a connectivity verification protocol echo message over the link to the remote network device without establishment of a connectivity verification protocol session. The echo message is sent using a forwarding protocol. In response to receipt of a reply to the connectivity verification protocol echo message from the remote network device, the local network device determines that the forwarding protocol is functioning and uses the link to forward data traffic to the remote network device.

Distinguishing between connectivity verification availability and forwarding protocol functionality in a computer network

In one embodiment, a local network device may determine an inability to establish a connectivity verification protocol (e.g., Bidirectional Forwarding Detection, 'BFD') session to a remote network device, such as from unreturned control messages. In response, the local network device may send at least one connectivity verification protocol echo message to the remote network device destined to be returned to the local network device and forwarded using a forwarding protocol. In response to receiving or not receiving the echo message, the local network device may thus determine whether the forwarding protocol is functioning between the local and remote network devices. In this manner, the local network device may determine whether an inability to establish a connectivity verification protocol session is due to an inability to forward packets between the devices, or due to the connectivity verification protocol not working (or not being configured) on the remote network device.

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Ottawa, Canada

Jonathan Parker