Network Monitoring OAM Name State Event Trigger
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network monitoring techniques face inaccuracies due to imperfect counter frame injection, especially when frames are sequenced back to back, and the high speed of transmission on interfaces like Gig-E and 10 Gig-E, making it difficult to track passive frame loss accurately.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a detection and Named Signaling Event (NSE) mechanism that allows for accurate passive frame loss counting by monitoring for a period of no packet transmission, triggering signaling events to initiate and terminate counting, and using these events to inject frame counting messages during moments of low traffic, thereby eliminating injection errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If counter frames are injected periodically using existing passive monitoring methods, then frame loss measurement is attempted, but frame injection errors occur when frames are sequenced back to back
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by sending probe frames before actual data traffic and using timestamps to pre-calculate expected arrival times. This allows the system to prepare measurement parameters in advance and inject counter frames at precisely calculated intervals that account for network propagation delay, preventing injection errors caused by back-to-back frame sequencing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from timestamp comparisons to dynamically adjust frame injection timing. By comparing actual packet arrival times with expected times calculated from probe frame timestamps, the system receives continuous feedback about network conditions and adjusts counter frame injection intervals accordingly, eliminating injection errors while maintaining accurate frame loss measurement.
2Productivity
If time stamping is used to measure frame loss on high rate interfaces like Gig-E and 10 Gig-E, then measurement capability is provided, but accuracy issues arise due to transmission speed exceeding clocking counting capability
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the high-speed data stream into manageable measurement intervals using probe frames sent at lower, clock-synchronized rates. By dividing the continuous high-rate traffic into discrete measurement segments bounded by probe frames, the system can accurately count frames within each segment using standard clocking, thereby maintaining measurement precision while supporting high transmission rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic probe frame transmission at intervals synchronized to the counting clock. This periodic action creates regular measurement opportunities where frame counts can be accurately captured at known time points, allowing the system to handle high transmission rates while maintaining counting accuracy through rhythmically spaced measurement snapshots.
3Reliability
If passive monitoring is implemented to track frame loss, then network performance monitoring is achieved, but imperfect counter frame injection makes accurate tracking difficult or impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces probe frames as intermediary elements between the monitoring system and data traffic. These probe frames act as mediators that carry timestamp information and define measurement boundaries without interfering with actual data transmission. By using this intermediary mechanism, the system achieves reliable frame loss tracking through precise counter frame injection timing based on probe frame timestamps.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed embodiments include a method, apparatus, and computer program product for improving network monitoring. For example, in one embodiment, current inaccuracies due to the imperfect counter frame injection error between ingress counters and egress counters is eliminated, by monitoring, using an ingress counter, for a time period that is slightly greater than the time it takes for a packet/frame to pass from one end to the other, for “no packets/frames”. In one embodiment, once this no packet time occurs, a signaling event is triggered. A notification is sent from the start of the path counter to the end of the path counter to start counting. A “stop counting/restart counting” signal is then sent from the start of the path counter to the end of the path counter the next time that no packets/frames are observed for the same period.