Carrier Class OAM

The LE-311v platform supports a rich set of features defined in the IEEE 802.3ah Ethernet in the First Mile (EFM) standard for OAM management capabilities as well as IEEE 802.1ag Connectivity Fault Management (CFM) capabilities. OAM and CFM capabilities enable the LE-311v to share and distribute management information across point-to-point links as well as across end-to-end, point-to-point, or point-to-multipoint connections.

The LE-OS operating system used in the LE-311v implements important capabilities from both the 802.3ah standard and the 802.1ag pre-standard to deliver management tools for Ethernet over WAN networks:

Link Events

LE-311v supports IEEE 802.3ah specifications for link events by monitoring normal system operation for degraded, but not yet inoperable Ethernet connections. Link events allow the number of frame errors in a given interval and the number of frame errors out of a set of frames to be actively monitored and event notifications to be sent to an OAM peer.

Remote Loopback

Remote Loopback is an important diagnostic tool supported in LE-311v platforms to isolate problem connections and segments in a larger network. The Remote Loopback capabilities in IEEE 802.3ah enable the LE-311v to transmit every frame received back to the same port as a way to track metrics such as delay and throughput. The Remote Loopback feature is valuable for qualitatively testing a link prior to activating and enabling services. It is also useful as a diagnostic tool for troubleshooting the location of faults when errors occur after a service has been deployed.

MAC Ping/Traceroute

Cost-effective network operations centers (NOCs) with a minimum of staffing require automated techniques for monitoring paths and connections within a Carrier Ethernet topology. The Traceroute feature (pre-standard 802.1ag) supported in the LE-311v ensures that virtual link/path connectivity exists for a given service and enables periodic or operator-initiated diagnostic operations.

Continuity Check

The LE-311v platform implements Continuity Check, also defined within pre-standard IEEE 802.1ag CFM. Continuity Check is an always-on, heartbeat style protocol that continuously checks the paths between devices in a Carrier Ethernet network. In the event that an error is detected along a provisioned, configured path, the NOC can be alerted.

• Introduction
• Provider Backbone Bridging (PBB-TE)
• MPLS Services
• Proven LE-OS Operating System
• Carrier Class QoS
• Reliability and Resiliency
• Advanced Security
• Carrier Class OAM

PDS-0003-001 Rev B.1