US 12,294,513 B2
Initiator-based data-plane validation for segment routed, multiprotocol label switched (MPLS) networks
Nagendra Kumar Nainar, Morrisville, NC (US); Carlos M. Pignataro, Cary, NC (US); and Zafar Ali, Hicksville, NY (US)
Assigned to Cisco Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed by Cisco Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed on Jul. 19, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/223,731.
Application 18/223,731 is a continuation of application No. 17/592,215, filed on Feb. 3, 2022, granted, now 11,818,038.
Application 17/592,215 is a continuation of application No. 16/852,932, filed on Apr. 20, 2020, granted, now 11,296,982, issued on Apr. 5, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0370370 A1, Nov. 16, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H04L 45/00 (2022.01); H04L 41/0659 (2022.01); H04L 43/10 (2022.01); H04L 43/50 (2022.01); H04L 45/02 (2022.01); H04L 45/42 (2022.01); H04L 45/50 (2022.01)
CPC H04L 45/26 (2013.01) [H04L 41/0659 (2013.01); H04L 43/10 (2013.01); H04L 43/50 (2013.01); H04L 45/02 (2013.01); H04L 45/42 (2013.01); H04L 45/50 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method comprising:
receiving, at a terminating node of a multi-protocol label switched (MPLS) network, an MPLS request message to validate connectivity in a network path of an MPLS network, wherein:
the MPLS request message includes a request for the terminating node to send a response message that identifies the terminating node to an initiating node;
the network path includes an intermediate node that sends traffic in a data plane of the network path to terminate on the terminating node or a second terminating node; and
the intermediate node is configured to route traffic having a particular label to the terminating node or the second terminating node;
generating the response message based at least in part on the request;
populating the response message with identification data that includes a unique identifier of the terminating node; and
sending the response message via the network path to the initiating node.