Technique for providing a control and management protocol for an ethernet layer in an ethernet network

摘要

A technique for providing a control and management protocol for an Ethernet network in an Ethernet layer is disclosed. In one embodiment, the technique is realized by transporting a plurality of inter-nodal messages via Ethernet packets based on a type parameter; identifying at least one management packet from the Ethernet packets; and identifying a management function associated with the at least one management packet based on a management parameter. In addition, the management function may involve notification of physical link failure; monitoring congestion; monitoring packet errors; communicating with an External Management System; measuring signal quality of link; detecting loss of signal; assessing signal quality of nodes by a loop back packet comparison; and communicating user information in the form of voice, data, and video between nodes.