Specifications

Management Guide CLI
TigerAccess™ EE
SMC7824M/VSW 149
7.2 Operation, Administration and Maintenance (OAM)
In the enterprise, Ethernet links and networks have been managed via Simple Network
Management Protocol (SNMP). Although SNMP provides a very flexible management so-
lution, it is not always efficient and is sometimes inadequate to the task.
First, using SNMP assumes that the underlying network is operational because SNMP re-
lies on IP connectivity; however, you need management functionality even more when the
underlying network is non-operational. Second, SNMP assumes every device is IP ac-
cessible. This requires provisioning IP on every device and instituting an IP overlay net-
work even if the ultimate end-user service is an Ethernet service. This is impractical in a
carrier environment.
For these reasons, carriers look for management capabilities at every layer of the network.
The Ethernet layer has not traditionally offered inherent management capabilities, so the
IEEE 802.3ah Ethernet in the First Mile (EFM) task force added the Operations, Admini-
stration and Maintenance (OAM) capabilities to Ethernet like interfaces. These manage-
ment capabilities were introduced to provide some basic OAM function on Ethernet media.
EFM OAM is complementary, not competitive, with SNMP management in that it provides
some basic management functions at Layer 2, rather than using Layer 3 and above as
required by SNMP over an IP infrastructure. OAM provides single-hop functionality in that
it works only between two directly connected Ethernet stations. SNMP can be used to
manage the OAM interactions of one Ethernet station with another.
7.2.1 OAM Loopback
For OAM loopback function, both the switch and the host should support OAM function.
OAM loopback function enables Loopback function from the user’s device to the host
which connected to the user’s device and operates it.
To enable/disable local OAM function, use the following command.
Command Mode Description
oam local admin enable PORTS Enables local OAM.
oam local admin disable PORTS
Bridge
Disables local OAM.
To configure loopback function of the host connected to the switch, use the following
command.
Command Mode Description
oam remote loopback enable
PORTS
Enables loopback function of peer device.
oam remote loopback disable
PORTS
Disables loopback function of peer device.
oam remote loopback start
PORTS
Bridge
Operates loopback.