Re: [EFM] OAM loop back / echo server function
Seto-
At 07:52 AM 9/6/01 +0900, you wrote:
[Date: 09/06/2001 From Seto]
Geoff,
Thanks for your comments.
>I agree with this goal.
>I agree that it should not require IP.
>I don't think that means that it needs to be done in MAC Control (but
I am
>certainly open to discussion)
I agree whether we should do it in MAC control is something we
should discuss. ;-)
>This brings up the much uglier issue of discovery, also a topic that
has
>always been outside the scope of 802.3.
>If there is going to be a bridge or router at the demarc then there
will
>have to be a discovery process that effectively logs the MAC address
into
>the service provider's system. The service provider won't be able to
>Ping/Echo the box until it knows the MAC address.
I disagree with your presumption that service provider need to
know the MAC address of each demarc. I'm thinking of a frame
with 802.1 reserved DA like a 802.3x pause frame. This frame
should not be forwarded by a bridge. This frame should be
ignored by a MAC which does support this L2 ping. This frame
should be used only in P2P networks defined for EFM networks
including P2P emulated EPON.
I don't think this is one that we are going to solve on casual mail
discussions.
There are tradeoffs between the local testing that MAC control provides
vs the general capability. I don't think a service provider is going to
get very far without knowing the MAC address of subscriber anyway.
I think this one goes on the issues list.
Seto
Best regards,
Geoff