A method for testing connectivity of virtual private networks, the virtual
private networks including customer edge routers and provider edge
routers, the provider edge routers belonging to a network managed by a
service provider, the method comprising: displaying a list of the virtual
private networks on a display screen of a network management system for
the network; receiving a signal from a user to select a virtual private
network from the list of the virtual private networks, the virtual
private network having a topology, an import route target, and an export
route target associated therewith; generating a list of operations to
test connectivity of the virtual private network from the topology, the
import route target, and the export route target; displaying the list of
operations to the user on the display screen; receiving a signal from the
user to select an operation from the list of operations, the operation
having a source provider edge router and a destination provider edge
network associated therewith; and, transmitting a message from the
network management system to the source provider edge router to perform
the operation.