Abstract: Systems and methods for discovering, testing, and optimizing paths in a network are provided. According to one embodiment, configuration data of a first and second packet forwarding device is obtained by a first and second agent associated with the first and second packet forwarding devices, respectively. Existence of multiple of equal cost links coupling the first and second packet forwarding devices is discovered by a network controller based on the configuration data. For each equal cost link, the network controller then identifies a performance metric and a type of packet transported by the equal cost link by: (i) probing the equal cost link from one side with a variety of test data having different packet characteristics; (ii) recording receipt of the test data on the other side; and (ii) determining the performance metric based on the received test data and timestamps contained within the received test data.

Abstract: Systems and methods for discovering, testing, and optimizing paths in a network are provided. According to one embodiment, configuration data of a first and second packet forwarding device is obtained by a first and second agent associated with the first and second packet forwarding devices, respectively. Existence of multiple of equal cost links coupling the first and second packet forwarding devices is discovered by a network controller based on the configuration data. For each equal cost link, the network controller then identifies a performance metric and a type of packet transported by the equal cost link by: (i) probing the equal cost link from one side with a variety of test data having different packet characteristics; (ii) recording receipt of the test data on the other side; and (ii) determining the performance metric based on the received test data and timestamps contained within the received test data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that discovers and tests paths in a network is described. In an exemplary embodiment, a device discovers a path by discovering a plurality of equal cost segments between the first and second network elements of the plurality of network elements. The device further generates a plurality of test data packets, wherein each of the test data packets has a different characteristic. In addition, the device injects the plurality of test data packets in the first network element such that the first network element transmits the plurality of test data packets to the second network element using the plurality of equal cost segments. The device additionally determines a path for each of the plurality of test data packets by recording which of the plurality of equal cost segments the first network element used to transmit that test data packet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that discovers and tests paths in a network is described. In an exemplary embodiment, a device discovers a path by discovering a plurality of equal cost segments between the first and second network elements of the plurality of network elements. The device further generates a plurality of test data packets, wherein each of the test data packets has a different characteristic. In addition, the device injects the plurality of test data packets in the first network element such that the first network element transmits the plurality of test data packets to the second network element using the plurality of equal cost segments. The device additionally determines a path for each of the plurality of test data packets by recording which of the plurality of equal cost segments the first network element used to transmit that test data packet.

Abstract: A device optimizes the path by receiving path information for the path that includes a series of connections between network elements that enable data to be communicated between the device and another device. The device additionally identifies a path priority from the path information and a plurality of forwarding options for the path from the path information. Furthermore, the device selects one of the plurality of forwarding options using the path priority. In addition, the device configures one of the plurality of forwarding options for the path on one of the plurality of network elements, where the device communicates data to the other device using the path and the selected forwarding option.