Service creation and OAM validation

1. MPLS and LSP creation

Create an MPLS network and LSPs for use by the service tunnels connecting the VPLS sites. Test the validity of the LSPs using LDP tree trace or LSP ping.

If the results indicate a problem with the path, use LSP trace to check the specific MPLS path for the device causing the ping failure.

2. Service tunnel creation

Create a service tunnel that uses the MPLS LSP created earlier and perform a tunnel ping on the service tunnel to verify tunnel connectivity.

Create all tunnels necessary to interconnect the VPLS sites, and repeat the tunnel ping to ensure tunnel connectivity.

After all of the tunnels are created, use the tunnel ping remote tunnel option and specify the return tunnel path. Verify bidirectional tunnel connectivity.

3. Service creation

Create a service using the service tunnels to interconnect the VPLS sites, either using mesh or spoke service tunnel bindings.

Use a service site ping between each VPLS site device and its neighboring sites to verify service configuration consistency.

4. MAC diagnostics

Connect the CPE devices to the VPLS and verify traffic.

Use MAC trace from the edge devices to verify MAC address learning by the VPLS sites and to ensure that the correct associations are made between MAC addresses and the service tunnels or SAPs to which they are bound.

Use MAC ping against an unknown MAC address to verify that no response is returned.

Use MAC populate to create an OAM-specific MAC address. Use MAC ping and MAC trace against the created MAC address to verify that customer traffic is not affected by the additional MAC address.

Use MAC purge to remove the created OAM MAC address.

Service OAM diagnostics

5. Diagnose traffic flow problems at a specific MAC address

Use MAC ping against the MAC address to which traffic is not flowing. Use the source and destination MAC address to simulate customer traffic routes as closely as possible.

Use MAC trace to pinpoint the location of the traffic failure.

Check for MAC filter rules or MAC table sizes to identify possible causes of the failure; for example, incorrect configurations.

6. Diagnose the components of the service

Use service site ping to test the potential next hops to ensure consistent configuration.

Use tunnel ping to the far end of the tunnel using the remote tunnel option and specify the return tunnel path. Verify bidirectional tunnel connectivity.

Use LSP ping to determine if the tunnel is working. Use an LSP trace to determine if an intervening device is down.