US Patent:
20070019568, Jan 25, 2007
Inventors:
Manivannan Velupillai - Hoffman Estates IL, US
Assignee:
SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P. - Reno NV
International Classification:
H04L 12/28
H04L 12/56
Abstract:
A method of monitoring network elements configured to support a number of customer virtual private networks (VPNs) provided for a number of customers. The method comprising associating network addresses and extended community numbers (ECNs) with the network elements; associating the ECNs with a number of the customer VPNs; generating a community list for at least a selected one of the customer VPNs, the community list specifying the network addresses for the network elements associated with the ECN of the selected customer VPN; contacting the network elements specified in the community list based on the network addresses associated therewith and extracting VPN interface information for the contacted network elements, the VPN interface information specifying a number of VPN interfaces associated with the network element and the customer associated with the VPN interfaces; and determining an interface status for the interfaces associated with the selected customer.