path stretch support
diff --git a/model/ccnx-l3-protocol.cc b/model/ccnx-l3-protocol.cc
index 223c578..d6391c5 100644
--- a/model/ccnx-l3-protocol.cc
+++ b/model/ccnx-l3-protocol.cc
@@ -236,6 +236,16 @@
   return 0;
 }
 
+Ptr<NetDevice>
+CcnxL3Protocol::GetNetDeviceByFace(Ptr<CcnxFace> face) const
+{
+    Ptr<CcnxNetDeviceFace> netDeviceFace = DynamicCast<CcnxNetDeviceFace> (face);
+    if (netDeviceFace == 0) 
+      return 0;
+
+    return netDeviceFace->GetNetDevice ();
+}
+
 uint32_t 
 CcnxL3Protocol::GetNFaces (void) const
 {