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Verifying the IS-IS Protocol

Purpose

If your MPLS network is configured with IS-IS as the interior gateway protocol (IGP), and the output of the show mpls lsp extensive command shows that there is a problem, check the IP and IS-IS layers. Because IS-IS and IP are independent of each other, you can check either layer first. For more information about checking the IP layer, see Verifying the IP Layer.

After you have checked the IP layer and determined that there is still a problem, check the IS-IS layer, verify that IS-IS adjacencies are up, and make sure that the interfaces and IS-IS protocol are configured correctly.

Figure 1: MPLS Network Broken at the IS-IS Protocol Layer

MPLS Network Broken at the IS-IS Protocol
Layer

To check the IS-IS protocol, follow these steps:

  1. Verify the LSP
  2. Verify IS-IS Adjacencies and Interfaces
  3. Verify the IS-IS Configuration
  4. Take Appropriate Action
  5. Verify the LSP Again

Verify the LSP

Purpose

Confirm that interfaces are configured for IS-IS, that the IS-IS protocol is configured correctly, and that adjacencies are established.

Action

To verify the label-switched path (LSP), enter the following command on the ingress, transit, and egress routers:

user@host> show mpls lsp extensive

Sample Output 1

user@R1> show mpls lsp extensive 
Ingress LSP: 1 sessions

10.0.0.6
  From: 10.0.0.1, State: Dn,  ActiveRoute: 0 ,  LSPname: R1-to-R6
   ActivePath: (none)
  LoadBalance: Random
  Encoding type: Packet, Switching type: Packet, GPID: IPv4
  Primary                    State: Dn
   24 Oct 21 13:48:01  No Route toward dest [3 times]
   23 Oct 21 13:47:44 Deselected as active
   22 Oct 21 13:47:43 No Route toward dest[2 times]
   21 Oct 21 13:47:43  ResvTear received
   20 Oct 21 13:47:43 Down
   19 Oct 21 13:47:43 10.1.13.2: No Route toward dest[2 times]
   18 Oct 21 13:47:38 Record Route:  10.1.13.2 10.1.36.2
   [...Output truncated...]
  Created: Tue Oct 19 21:22:53 2004
Total 1 displayed, Up 0,  Down 1

Egress LSP: 0 sessions
Total 0 displayed, Up 0, Down 0

Transit LSP: 0 sessions
Total 0 displayed, Up 0, Down 0

Sample Output 2

user@R3> show mpls lsp extensive
Ingress LSP: 0 sessions
Total 0 displayed, Up 0, Down 0

Egress LSP: 0 sessions
Total 0 displayed, Up 0, Down 0

Transit LSP: 0 sessions
Total 0 displayed, Up 0, Down 0

Sample Output 3

user@R6> show mpls lsp extensive
Ingress LSP: 1 sessions

10.0.0.1
  From: 10.0.0.6, State: Dn,  ActiveRoute: 0 , LSPname:  R6-to-R1
   ActivePath: (none)
  LoadBalance: Random
  Encoding type: Packet, Switching type: Packet, GPID: IPv4
  Primary                    State: Dn
    Will be enqueued for recomputation in 3 second(s).
   13 Oct 21 14:23:33 CSPF failed: no route toward 10.0.0.1[90 times]
   12 Oct 21 13:39:56 Deselected as active
   11 Oct 21 13:39:56 CSPF: could not determine self
   [...Output truncated...]
  Created: Tue Oct 19 22:28:30 2004
Total 1 displayed, Up 0,  Down 1

Egress LSP: 0 sessions
Total 0 displayed, Up 0, Down 0

Transit LSP: 0 sessions
Total 0 displayed, Up 0, Down 0

Meaning

The sample output shows that LSP R1-to-R6 and the reverse LSP R6-to-R1 are down, and there are no LSP sessions on transit router R3.

Verify IS-IS Adjacencies and Interfaces

Purpose

When you check the IS-IS layer, you verify that IS-IS adjacencies are up and that the IS-IS interfaces are included at the protocol level.

Action

To verify the functioning of adjacent interfaces, enter the following commands from the relevant routers:

user@host> show isis adjacencyuser@host> show isis interface

Sample Output 1

user@R1> show isis adjacency
Interface             System         L State        Hold (secs) SNPA
so-0/0/0.0            R2             2 Up                   20
so-0/0/1.0            R5             2 Up                   23
so-0/0/2.0            R3             2 Up                   26

user@R3> show isis adjacency 
Interface             System         L State        Hold (secs) SNPA
so-0/0/0.0            R4             2 Up                   23
so-0/0/1.0            R2             2 Up                   21
so-0/0/2.0            R1             2 Up                   19
so-0/0/3.0            R6             2 Down                   0

user@R6> show isis adjacency 
IS-IS instance is not running

Sample Output 2

user@R1> show isis interface 
IS-IS interface database:
Interface             L CirID Level 1 DR        Level 2 DR        L1/L2 Metric
lo0.0                 0   0x1 Passive           Passive                 0/0
so-0/0/0.0            2   0x1 Disabled          Point to Point         10/10
so-0/0/1.0            2   0x1 Disabled          Point to Point         10/10
so-0/0/2.0            2   0x1 Disabled          Point to Point         10/10

user@R3> show isis interface  
IS-IS interface database:
Interface             L CirID Level 1 DR        Level 2 DR        L1/L2 Metric
lo0.0                 0   0x1 Passive           Passive                 0/0
so-0/0/0.0            2   0x1 Disabled          Point to Point         10/10
so-0/0/1.0            2   0x1 Disabled          Point to Point         10/10
so-0/0/2.0            2   0x1 Disabled          Point to Point         10/10
so-0/0/3.0            2   0x1 Disabled          Point to Point         10/10

user@R6> show isis interface 
IS-IS interface database:
Interface              L  CirID Level 1 DR         Level 2 DR         L1/L2 Metric
lo0.0                 0   0x1 Passive           Passive                 0/0
so-0/0/0.0             1    0x1 Point to Point     Disabled                10/10
so-0/0/1.0             1    0x1 Down               Disabled                10/10
so-0/0/2.0             1    0x1 Point to Point     Disabled                10/10
so-0/0/3.0             1    0x1 Point to Point     Disabled                10/10

Meaning

Sample Output 1 shows that ingress router R1 has established adjacencies with the relevant routers. Transit router R3 does not have an adjacency with egress router R6, and egress router R6 has no adjacencies established in the network shown in MPLS Network Broken at the IP and IGP Layers, indicating that the problem might be at the IS-IS protocol level.

Sample Output 2 shows that R1 and R2 are Level 2 routers, in contrast to R6 which is a Level 1 router. When a router is configured explicitly as a Level 1 or Level 2 router, it does not communicate with routers configured at a different level. Level 1 routers communicate with other Level 1 routers within their area, while Level 2 routers communicate with other Level 2 routers, and toward other autonomous systems. Because all the routers in this network are configured for Level 2, they cannot form an adjacency with R6, which is incorrectly configured as a Level 1 router.

Verify the IS-IS Configuration

Purpose

When you have determined that the problem is probably at the IS-IS protocol level, check the IS-IS configuration of the routers in your network.

Action

To verify the IS-IS configuration, enter the following command from the relevant routers:

user@host> show configuration protocols isis

Sample Output

user@R1> show configuration protocols isis
level 1 disable;
interface so-0/0/0.0;
interface so-0/0/1.0;
interface so-0/0/2.0;
interface lo0.0; {
    passive

user@R3> show configuration protocols isis 
level 1 disable;
interface all {
    level 2 metric 10;
}
interface fxp0.0 {
    disable;
}
interface lo0.0; {
    passive

user@R6> show configuration protocols isis    
level 2 disable; <<< Incorrect level disabled
interface all {
    level 2 metric 10;
}
interface fxp0.0 {
    disable;
}
interface lo0.0; {
    passive

Meaning

The sample output shows that R6 has Level 2 disabled, while R1 and R3 have Level 1 disabled. For IS-IS adjacencies to establish, routers need to be at the same level. Another common configuration error is to omit the loopback interface (lo0) from the configuration at the [edit protocols isis] hierarchy level. IS-IS does not function correctly if the loopback interface (lo0) is not configured at this level. In addition, including the passive statement ensures that protocols are not run over the loopback interface (lo0) and that the loopback interface (lo0) is advertised correctly throughout the network.

Take Appropriate Action

Problem

Depending on the error you encountered in your investigation, you must take the appropriate action to correct the problem. In the example below, the routers are configured to function at different levels of the IS-IS protocol.

Solution

To correct the error in this example, enter the following commands:

Sample Output

[edit protocols isis]
user@R6# show 
level 2 disable;
interface all {
    level 2 metric 10;
}
interface fxp0.0 {
    disable;
}
interface lo0.0; {
passive

[edit protocols isis]
user@R6# delete level 2  

[edit protocols isis]
user@R6# set level 1 disable 

[edit protocols isis]
user@R6# show  
level 1 disable;
interface all {
    level 2 metric 10;
}
interface fxp0.0 {
    disable;
}
interface lo0.0; {
passive

[edit protocols isis]
user@R6# commit 
commit complete

[edit protocols isis]
user@R6# run show isis adjacency  
Interface             System         L State        Hold (secs) SNPA
so-0/0/0.0            R5             2 Up                   22
so-0/0/1.0            R4             2 Up                   22
so-0/0/2.0            R2             2 Up                   22
so-0/0/3.0            R3             2 Up                   22

Meaning

The sample output shows that the configuration error on egress router R6 has been corrected, and IS-IS adjacencies are now established.

Verify the LSP Again

Purpose

After taking the appropriate action to correct the error, the label-switched path (LSP) needs to be checked again to confirm that the problem in the RSVP layer has been resolved.

Action

To verify that the LSP is up and traversing the network as expected, enter the following command from the ingress, egress, and transit routers:

user@host> show mpls lsp extensive

Sample Output 1

user@R1> show mpls lsp extensive
Ingress LSP: 1 sessions

10.0.0.6
  From: 10.0.0.1, State: Up,  ActiveRoute: 1 ,  LSPname: R1-to-R6
  ActivePath:  (primary)
  LoadBalance: Random
  Encoding type: Packet, Switching type: Packet, GPID: IPv4
 *Primary                    State: Up
    Computed ERO (S [L] denotes strict [loose] hops): (CSPF metric: 20)
  10.1.13.2 S 10.1.36.2 S  
    Received RRO (ProtectionFlag 1=Available 2=InUse 4=B/W 8=Node 10=SoftPreempt):
          10.1.13.2 10.1.36.2
    5 Oct 21 15:52:07 Selected as active path
    4 Oct 21 15:52:07 Record Route:  10.1.13.2 10.1.36.2
    3 Oct 21 15:52:07 Up
    2 Oct 21 15:52:07 Originate Call
    1 Oct 21 15:52:07 CSPF: computation result accepted
  Created: Thu Oct 21 15:52:06 2004
Total 1 displayed,  Up 1 , Down 0

Egress LSP: 1 sessions

10.0.0.1
  From: 10.0.0.6, LSPstate: Up, ActiveRoute: 0
   LSPname: R6-to-R1 , LSPpath: Primary
  Suggested label received: -, Suggested label sent: -
  Recovery label received: -, Recovery label sent: -
  Resv style: 1 FF, Label in: 3, Label out: -
  Time left:  142, Since: Thu Oct 21 15:41:59 2004
  Tspec: rate 0bps size 0bps peak Infbps m 20 M 1500
  Port number: sender 2 receiver 39082 protocol 0
  PATH rcvfrom: 10.1.13.2 (so-0/0/2.0) 17 pkts
  Adspec: received MTU 1500 
  PATH sentto: localclient
  RESV rcvfrom: localclient 
   Record route: 10.1.36.2 10.1.13.2 <self>  
Total 1 displayed,  Up 1 , Down 0

Transit LSP: 0 sessions
Total 0 displayed, Up 0, Down 0

Sample Output 2

user@R3> show mpls lsp extensive
Ingress LSP: 0 sessions
Total 0 displayed, Up 0, Down 0

Egress LSP: 0 sessions
Total 0 displayed, Up 0, Down 0

Transit LSP: 2 sessions

10.0.0.1
  From: 10.0.0.6, LSPstate: Up, ActiveRoute: 1
   LSPname: R6-to-R1 , LSPpath: Primary
  Suggested label received: -, Suggested label sent: -
  Recovery label received: -, Recovery label sent: 3
  Resv style: 1 FF, Label in: 100528, Label out: 3
  Time left:  125, Since: Thu Oct 21 15:29:26 2004
  Tspec: rate 0bps size 0bps peak Infbps m 20 M 1500
  Port number: sender 2 receiver 39082 protocol 0
  PATH rcvfrom: 10.1.36.2 (so-0/0/3.0) 17 pkts
  Adspec: received MTU 1500 sent MTU 1500
  PATH sentto: 10.1.13.1 (so-0/0/2.0) 17 pkts
  RESV rcvfrom: 10.1.13.1 (so-0/0/2.0) 17 pkts
  Explct route: 10.1.13.1 
  Record route: 10.1.36.2 <self> 10.1.13.1  

10.0.0.6
  From: 10.0.0.1, LSPstate: Up, ActiveRoute: 1
   LSPname: R1-to-R6 , LSPpath: Primary
  Suggested label received: -, Suggested label sent: -
  Recovery label received: -, Recovery label sent: 3
  Resv style: 1 FF, Label in: 100544, Label out: 3
  Time left:  147, Since: Thu Oct 21 15:39:33 2004
  Tspec: rate 0bps size 0bps peak Infbps m 20 M 1500
  Port number: sender 1 receiver 47963 protocol 0
  PATH rcvfrom: 10.1.13.1 (so-0/0/2.0) 4 pkts
  Adspec: received MTU 1500 sent MTU 1500
  PATH sentto: 10.1.36.2 (so-0/0/3.0) 4 pkts
  RESV rcvfrom: 10.1.36.2 (so-0/0/3.0) 4 pkts
  Explct route: 10.1.36.2 
  Record route: 10.1.13.1 <self> 10.1.36.2  
Total 2 displayed, Up 2, Down 0

Sample Output 3

user@R6> show mpls lsp extensive
Ingress LSP: 1 sessions

10.0.0.1
  From: 10.0.0.6, State: Up, ActiveRoute: 1,  LSPname: R6-to-R1
  ActivePath:  (primary)
  LoadBalance: Random
  Encoding type: Packet, Switching type: Packet, GPID: IPv4
 *Primary                    State: Up
    Computed ERO (S [L] denotes strict [loose] hops): (CSPF metric: 20)
  10.1.36.1 S 10.1.13.1 S  
    Received RRO (ProtectionFlag 1=Available 2=InUse 4=B/W 8=Node 10=SoftPreempt):
          10.1.36.1 10.1.13.1
   18 Oct 21 15:34:18 Selected as active path
   17 Oct 21 15:34:17 Record Route:  10.1.36.1 10.1.13.1
   16 Oct 21 15:34:17 Up
   15 Oct 21 15:34:17 Originate Call
   14 Oct 21 15:34:17 CSPF: computation result accepted
   [...Output truncated...]
  Created: Tue Oct 19 22:28:30 2004
Total 1 displayed, Up 1, Down 0

Egress LSP: 1 sessions

10.0.0.6
  From: 10.0.0.1, LSPstate: Up, ActiveRoute: 0
   LSPname: R1-to-R6 , LSPpath: Primary
  Suggested label received: -, Suggested label sent: -
  Recovery label received: -, Recovery label sent: -
  Resv style: 1 FF, Label in: 3, Label out: -
  Time left:  126, Since: Thu Oct 21 15:44:25 2004
  Tspec: rate 0bps size 0bps peak Infbps m 20 M 1500
  Port number: sender 1 receiver 47963 protocol 0
  PATH rcvfrom: 10.1.36.1 (so-0/0/3.0) 4 pkts
  Adspec: received MTU 1500 
  PATH sentto: localclient
  RESV rcvfrom: localclient 
   Record route: 10.1.13.1 10.1.36.1 <self>  
Total 1 displayed, Up 1, Down 0

Transit LSP: 0 sessions
Total 0 displayed, Up 0, Down 0

Meaning

Sample Outputs 1 and 3 from ingress router R1 and egress router R6 show that the LSP is now traversing the network along the expected path, from R1 through R3 to R6, and the reverse LSP, from R6 through R3 to R1. In addition, Sample Output 2 from transit router R3 shows that there are two transit LSP sessions, one from R1 to R6, and the other from R6 to R1.

Published: 2013-01-22

Published: 2013-01-22