Using Ping/Tracert on a Layer 2 Network

The ping or tracert operations provides information used to locate Ethernet link faults.

Context

To manually monitor the connectivity between two devices, you can send test packets and wait for a reply to test whether the destination device is reachable.

For the network on which the MD, MA, and MEP are not configured, you can implement GMAC ping to monitor the connectivity between two devices.
For the network on which the MD, MA, and MEP are configured, you can implement 802.1ag MAC ping to monitor the connectivity between MEPs at the same maintenance level or between MEPs and MIPs at the same maintenance level.

Pre-configuration Tasks

No pre-configuration tasks are needed to implement GMAC ping.

Before implementing 802.1ag MAC ping, configure Ethernet CFM.

Using GMAC Ping to Monitor Link Connectivity on a Layer 2 Network: Generic MAC (GMAC) ping applies to a part of or a whole network for monitoring connectivity without configuring a maintenance domain (MD), maintenance association (MA), or maintenance association end point (MEP).

Using GMAC Trace to Monitor the Forwarding Path on a Layer 2 Network: Generic MAC (GMAC) trace can be used to monitor paths and locate faults in a part of or a whole network without configuring an MD, MA, or MEP.

Using 802.1ag MAC Ping to Monitor Link Connectivity on a Layer 2 Network: 802.1ag MAC ping monitors connectivity between MEPs or between MEPs and MIPs within an MA.

Using 802.1ag MAC Trace to Monitor the Forwarding Path on a Layer 2 Network: 802.1ag MAC trace monitors the connectivity between MEPs or between MEPs and MIPs within an MA and provides information used to locate faults.