US 12,452,167 B2
Identifying loop-origination points in an overlay network
Vinayak Joshi, Bangalore (IN); Venkatavaradhan Devarajan, Bangalore (IN); and Balaji Sankaran, Bangalore (IN)
Assigned to Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP, Spring, TX (US)
Filed by Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP, Spring, TX (US)
Filed on Oct. 3, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/480,361.
Prior Publication US 2025/0112855 A1, Apr. 3, 2025
Int. Cl. H04L 45/28 (2022.01); H04L 45/42 (2022.01); H04L 45/745 (2022.01)
CPC H04L 45/28 (2013.01) [H04L 45/42 (2013.01); H04L 45/745 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method comprising:
determining, by a network management system (NMS), that a loop associated with a media access control (MAC) address has been detected in an overlay network, wherein a respective network device in the overlay network is provisioned and managed by the NMS;
probing, by the NMS, a first network device in the loop by instructing the first network device to observe the MAC address for a predetermined period;
receiving, from the first network device by the NMS, a first message indicating a first set of ports of the first network device from which the MAC address is observed, wherein observing the MAC address at a port includes receiving a plurality of packets with the MAC address via the port;
probing, by the NMS, an upstream network device reachable via each of the first set of ports by instructing the upstream network device to observe the MAC address for the predetermined period, wherein observing the MAC address at an upstream port of the upstream network device causes probing of a further upstream network device reachable via the upstream port; and
determining, by the NMS based on probing of a respective network device in the loop, one or more network devices that have erroneously forwarded a packet along the loop as loop origination points (LOPs) for the loop.