Configuring Ethernet Oam; Overview; Major Functions Of Ethernet Oam; Ethernet Oampdus - HP 5900 Series Configuration Manual

Configuring Ethernet OAM

Overview

Ethernet Operation, Administration and Maintenance (OAM) is a tool that monitors Layer 2 link status
and addresses common link-related issues on the "last mile." Ethernet OAM improves Ethernet
management and maintainability. You can use it to monitor the status of the point-to-point link between
two directly connected devices.

Major functions of Ethernet OAM

Ethernet OAM provides the following functions:
Link performance monitoring—Monitors the performance indices of a link, including packet loss,
•
delay, and jitter, and collects traffic statistics of various types.
Fault detection and alarm—Checks the connectivity of a link by sending OAM protocol data units
•
(OAMPDUs) and reports to the network administrators when a link error occurs.
Remote loopback—Checks link quality and locates link errors by looping back OAMPDUs.
•

Ethernet OAMPDUs

Ethernet OAM operates on the data link layer. Ethernet OAM reports the link status by periodically
exchanging OAMPDUs between devices, so that the administrator can effectively manage the network.
Ethernet OAMPDUs include the following types shown in
Table 1 Functions of different types of OAMPDUs
OAMPDU type
Information OAMPDU
Event Notification
OAMPDU
Loopback Control
OAMPDU
NOTE:
Throughout this document, an Ethernet OAM-enabled port is called an "Ethernet OAM entity" or an
"OAM entity."

How Ethernet OAM works

This section describes the working procedures of Ethernet OAM.
Function
Used for transmitting state information of an Ethernet OAM entity, including the
information about the local device and remote devices, and customized information,
to the remote Ethernet OAM entity, and maintaining OAM connections.
Used by link monitoring to notify the remote OAM entity when it detects problems on
the link in between.
Used for remote loopback control. By inserting the information used to
enable/disable loopback to a loopback control OAMPDU, you can enable/disable
loopback on a remote OAM entity.
1
Table 1.