Ethernet Oam Configuration; Ethernet Oam Overview; Background; Major Functions Of Ethernet Oam - HP A5830 series Configuration Manual

Ethernet OAM configuration

Ethernet OAM overview

Throughout this document, a port with Ethernet OAM enabled is an Ethernet OAM entity or an OAM
entity.

Background

With features such as ease of use and low price, Ethernet has gradually become the major underlying
technology for today's LANs. Recently, with the emergence of Gigabit Ethernet and 10-Gigabit Ethernet,
Ethernet is gaining popularity in MANs and WANs as well.
In the beginning, Ethernet is mainly used in LANs, which have low reliability and stability requirements.
This is why an effective management and maintenance mechanism for Ethernet has been absent all
along, hindering the usage of Ethernet in MANs and WANs. Implementing OAM on Ethernet networks
has now become an urgent matter.
Ethernet OAM is a tool that monitors Layer 2 link status and addresses common link-related issues on the
"last mile." You can monitor the status of the point-to-point link between two directly connected devices
by enabling Ethernet OAM on them.

Major functions of Ethernet OAM

Ethernet OAM can effectively promote your management and maintenance capabilities over Ethernet
networks, guaranteeing the stability of the networks. 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 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 works 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 fall into the following types: Information, Event Notification, and Loopback Control.
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