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Enabling Ethernet Local Management Interface

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Enabling Ethernet Local Management Interface

Contents

Prerequisites for Enabling Ethernet Local Management Interface

Restrictions for Enabling Ethernet Local Management Interface

Information About Enabling Ethernet Local Management Interface

EVC

Ethernet LMI

Benefits of Ethernet LMI

How to Enable Ethernet Local Management Interface

Enabling Ethernet LMI on All Supported Interfaces

Enabling Ethernet LMI on a Single Supported Interface

Configuration Examples for Ethernet Local Management Interface

Enabling Ethernet LMI on All Supported Interfaces: Example

Enabling Ethernet LMI on a Single Supported Interface: Example

Additional References

Related Documents

Standards

MIBs

RFCs

Technical Assistance

Feature Information for Enabling Ethernet Local Management Interface

Glossary


Enabling Ethernet Local Management Interface

First Published: June 19, 2006
Last Updated: October 7, 2009

Ethernet Local Management Interface (LMI) is an Ethernet layer operation, administration, and management (OAM) protocol. It provides information that enables autoconfiguration of customer edge (CE) devices and provides the status of Ethernet virtual connections (EVCs) for large Ethernet metropolitan-area networks (MANs) and WANs. Specifically, Ethernet LMI notifies a CE device of the operating state of an EVC and the time when an EVC is added or deleted. Ethernet LMI also communicates the attributes of an EVC and a user-network interface (UNI) to a CE device.

The advent of Ethernet as a MAN and WAN technology imposes a new set of OAM requirements on Ethernet's traditional operations, which were centered on enterprise networks only. The expansion of Ethernet technology into the domain of service providers, where networks are substantially larger and more complex than enterprise networks and the user-base is wider, makes operational management of link uptime crucial. More importantly, the timeliness in isolating and responding to a failure becomes mandatory for normal day-to-day operations, and OAM translates directly to the competitiveness of the service provider.

Finding Feature Information in This Module

Your Cisco IOS software release may not support all of the features documented in this module. To reach links to specific feature documentation in this module and to see a list of the releases in which each feature is supported, use the "Feature Information for Enabling Ethernet Local Management Interface" section.

Finding Support Information for Platforms and Cisco IOS and Catalyst OS Software Images

Use Cisco Feature Navigator to find information about platform support and Cisco IOS and Catalyst OS software image support. To access Cisco Feature Navigator, go to http://www.cisco.com/go/cfn. An account on Cisco.com is not required.

Contents

•Prerequisites for Enabling Ethernet Local Management Interface

•Restrictions for Enabling Ethernet Local Management Interface

•Information About Enabling Ethernet Local Management Interface

•How to Enable Ethernet Local Management Interface

•Configuration Examples for Ethernet Local Management Interface

•Additional References

•Feature Information for Enabling Ethernet Local Management Interface

•Glossary

Prerequisites for Enabling Ethernet Local Management Interface

Business Requirements

•Ethernet OAM such as connectivity fault management (CFM) must be implemented and operational on the service provider's network.

Restrictions for Enabling Ethernet Local Management Interface

•Ethernet LMI relies on Ethernet CFM for the status of an EVC, the remote UNI identifier associated with an EVC, and remote UNI status.

•Ethernet LMI CE is available only on routing ports on routing platforms. For information about Ethernet LMI PE functionality on switching platforms, see the "Configuring Ethernet CFM and E-LMI" chapter of the Cisco ME 3400 Switch Software Configuration Guide, Release 12.2(25)SEG.

•Ethernet LMI in the Cisco IOS Software Release 12.4(9)T does not support autoconfiguration of CE devices.

Information About Enabling Ethernet Local Management Interface

Before you set up Ethernet LMI, you should understand the following concepts:

•EVC

•Ethernet LMI

EVC

An EVC as defined by the Metro Ethernet Forum could be a port level point-to-point or multipoint-to-multipoint Layer 2 circuit. EVC status can be used by the CE device to find an alternative path in to the service provider network or in some cases, fall back to a backup path over Ethernet or another alternative service such as Frame Relay or ATM.

Ethernet LMI

Ethernet LMI is an Ethernet layer OAM protocol between a CE device and the PE in large Ethernet MANs and WANs. It provides information that enables service providers to autoconfigure CE devices with service parameters and parameter changes from a user provider edge (UPE) device.

Figure 1 shows where in a network Ethernet LMI functions.

Figure 1

Position in the Network Where Ethernet LMI Functions

LMI also provides the status of Ethernet EVCs in large Ethernet MANs and WANs to the CE. Specifically, Ethernet LMI notifies a CE device of the operating state of an EVC and the time when an EVC is added or deleted. Ethernet LMI also communicates EVC and UNI attributes to a CE device.

The Ethernet LMI protocol includes the following procedures, as defined by the MEF 16 Technical Specification:

•Notifying the CE when an EVC is added

•Notifying the CE when an EVC is deleted

•Notifying the CE of the availability state of a configured EVC (Active, Not Active, or Partially Active)

•Communicating UNI and EVC attributes to the CE

Benefits of Ethernet LMI

Ethernet LMI provides the following benefits:

•Communication of end-to-end status of the EVC to the CE device

•Communication of EVC and UNI attributes to a CE device

•Competitive advantage for service providers

How to Enable Ethernet Local Management Interface

To enable Ethernet LMI, perform the following tasks:

•Enabling Ethernet LMI on All Supported Interfaces

•Enabling Ethernet LMI on a Single Supported Interface

Enabling Ethernet LMI on All Supported Interfaces

Perform this task to enable Ethernet LMI on all supported interfaces on a device.

SUMMARY STEPS

1. enable

2. configure terminal

3. ethernet lmi global

4. end

DETAILED STEPS

 
Command or Action
Purpose

Step 1 

enable

Example:

Router> enable

Enables privileged EXEC mode.

•Enter your password if prompted.

Step 2 

configure terminal

Example:

Router# configure terminal

Puts the CLI in global configuration mode.

Step 3 

ethernet lmi global

Example:

Router(config)# ethernet lmi global

Enables Ethernet LMI on all supported interfaces on the device.

Step 4 

end

Example:

Router# end

Returns the CLI to privileged EXEC mode.

Enabling Ethernet LMI on a Single Supported Interface

Perform the steps in this task to enable Ethernet LMI on a specific supported interface.

SUMMARY STEPS

1. enable

2. configure terminal

3. interface type number

4. ethernet lmi interface

5. end

DETAILED STEPS

 
Command or Action
Purpose

Step 1 

enable

Example:

Router> enable

Enables privileged EXEC mode.

•Enter your password if prompted.

Step 2 

configure terminal

Example:

Router# configure terminal

Puts the CLI in global configuration mode.

Step 3 

interface type number

Example:

Router(config)# interface ethernet 0/0

Specifies an interface and puts the CLI in interface configuration mode.

Step 4 

ethernet lmi interface

Example:

Router(config-if)# ethernet lmi interface

Enables Ethernet LMI on the interface.

Step 5 

end

Example:

Router# end

Returns the CLI to privileged EXEC mode.

Configuration Examples for Ethernet Local Management Interface

The examples in this section show the configurations that enable Ethernet LMI on all interfaces on a CE device (globally) and on a specific interface on a CE device.

•Enabling Ethernet LMI on All Supported Interfaces: Example

•Enabling Ethernet LMI on a Single Supported Interface: Example

Enabling Ethernet LMI on All Supported Interfaces: Example

The following example shows how to enable Ethernet LMI on all supported interfaces on a device: 

enable

configure terminal

Enter configuration commands, one per line.  End with CNTL/Z.

ethernet lmi global 

end

00:06:33: %LINEPROTO-5-UPDOWN: Line protocol on Interface Ethernet0/0, changed p

Enabling Ethernet LMI on a Single Supported Interface: Example

The following example shows how to enable Ethernet LMI on a single interface: 

enable

configure terminal

Enter configuration commands, one per line.  End with CNTL/Z.

interface ethernet 0/0

ethernet lmi interface

end

00:05:51: %SYS-5-CONFIG_I: Configured from console by console

Additional References

The following sections provide references related to enabling Ethernet Local Management Interface.

Related Documents

Related Topic
Document Title

Ethernet Connectivity Fault Management

"Configuring Ethernet Connectivity Fault Management in a Service Provider Network" in the Cisco IOS Carrier Ethernet Configuration Guide

Configuring CFM and E-LMI in a service provider network

Cisco ME 3400 Switch Software Configuration Guide, Rel. 12.2(25)SEG

Commands used for configuring Ethernet LMI in a service provider network

Cisco ME 3400 Switch Command Reference, Rel. 12.2(25)SEG

Ethernet LMI at a provider edge

"Configuring Ethernet Local Management Interface at a Provider Edge" in the Cisco IOS Carrier Ethernet Configuration Guide


Standards

Standard
Title

Metro Ethernet Forum 16 Technical Specification

Technical Specification MEF 16- Ethernet Local Management Interface

IEEE P802.1ag/D5.2

Draft Standard for Local and Metropolitan Area Networks

ITU-T Q.3/13

Liaison statement on Ethernet OAM (Y.17ethoam)

IETF VPLS OAM

L2VPN OAM Requirements and Framework


MIBs

MIB
MIBs Link

No new or modified MIBs are supported by this feature, and support for existing MIBs has not been modified by this feature.

To locate and download MIBs for selected platforms, Cisco IOS releases, and feature sets, use Cisco MIB Locator found at the following URL:

http://www.cisco.com/go/mibs


RFCs

RFC
Title

No new or modified RFCs are supported by this feature, and support for existing RFCs has not been modified by this feature.

—


Technical Assistance

Description
Link

The Cisco Support website provides extensive online resources, including documentation and tools for troubleshooting and resolving technical issues with Cisco products and technologies.

To receive security and technical information about your products, you can subscribe to various services, such as the Product Alert Tool (accessed from Field Notices), the Cisco Technical Services Newsletter, and Really Simple Syndication (RSS) Feeds.

Access to most tools on the Cisco Support website requires a Cisco.com user ID and password.

http://www.cisco.com/techsupport


Feature Information for Enabling Ethernet Local Management Interface

Table 1 lists the feature release history for this feature.

Not all commands may be available in your Cisco IOS software release. For release information about a specific command, see the command reference documentation.

Use Cisco Feature Navigator to find information about platform support and software image support. Cisco Feature Navigator enables you to determine which Cisco IOS and Catalyst OS software images support a specific software release, feature set, or platform. To access Cisco Feature Navigator, go to http://www.cisco.com/go/cfn. An account on Cisco.com is not required.

Note Table 1 lists only the Cisco IOS software release train that introduced support for a given feature in a given Cisco IOS software release train. Unless noted otherwise, subsequent releases of that Cisco IOS software release also support that feature.

Table 1 Feature Information for Enabling Ethernet Local Management Interface 

Feature Name
Releases
Feature Information

Ethernet Local Management Interface

12.4(9)T 12.2(33)SRB 12.4(15)T2

Ethernet LMI is an Ethernet layer OAM protocol. It provides information that enables autoconfiguration of CE devices and provides the status of EVCs for large Ethernet MANs and WANs.

This feature was implemented on the Cisco 7600 router in Cisco IOS Release 12.2(33)SRB.

The following commands were introduced or modified: clear ethernet lmi statistics, debug ethernet lmi, ethernet lmi, ethernet lmi global, ethernet lmi interface, show ethernet lmi


Glossary

CE—customer edge. Edge equipment on the customer side of a user-network interface (UNI).

CE-VLAN ID—Identifier of a CE-VLAN.

E-LMI—Ethernet Local Management Interface. An Ethernet layer OAM protocol. It provides information that enables autoconfiguration of CE devices and provides the status of Ethernet virtual connections (EVCs) for large Ethernet MANs and WANs.

EVC—Ethernet virtual connection. An association of two or more user-network interfaces.

OAM—operations, administration, and maintenance. A term used by several standards bodies to describe protocols and procedures for operating, administrating, and maintaining networks. Examples are ATM OAM and IEEE Std. 802.3ah OAM.

PE—provider edge. Edge equipment on the service provider side of a user-network interface (UNI).

UNI—user-network interface. A common term for a bridge portion an operator's bridge that is connected to customer equipment. A UNI often includes a C-VLAN-aware bridge component. The term UNI is used broadly in the IEEE P802.1ag/D5.2 standard when the purpose for various features of LMI are explained.

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