Abstract: A method, device, and computer-readable medium are disclosed for automatically activating a probe configured to generate test network traffic in response to evaluating a policy that accounts for aggregated information that describes traffic that was processed by a network device. The method includes storing a policy, and evaluating the policy based at least in part on an item of received aggregated information that describes a set of packets that were processed by the network device and sent or received on a network. The probe is activated at least partially in response to evaluating the policy. The probe generates test packets to emulate one or more applications, services, or devices communicating on the network.

Abstract: A method, device, and computer-readable medium are disclosed for automatically activating a probe configured to generate test network traffic in response to evaluating a policy that accounts for aggregated information that describes traffic that was processed by a network device. The method includes storing a policy, and evaluating the policy based at least in part on an item of received aggregated information that describes a set of packets that were processed by the network device and sent or received on a network. The probe is activated at least partially in response to evaluating the policy. The probe generates test packets to emulate one or more applications, services, or devices communicating on the network.

Abstract: A method, device, and computer-readable medium are disclosed for automatically activating a probe configured to generate test network traffic in response to evaluating a policy that accounts for aggregated information that describes traffic that was processed by a network device. The method includes storing a policy, and evaluating the policy based at least in part on an item of received aggregated information that describes a set of packets that were processed by the network device and sent or received on a network. The probe is activated at least partially in response to evaluating the policy. The probe generates test packets to emulate one or more applications, services, or devices communicating on the network.

Abstract: A method, device, and computer-readable medium are disclosed for automatically activating a probe configured to generate test network traffic in response to evaluating a policy that accounts for aggregated information that describes traffic that was processed by a network device. The method includes storing a policy, and evaluating the policy based at least in part on an item of received aggregated information that describes a set of packets that were processed by the network device and sent or received on a network. The probe is activated at least partially in response to evaluating the policy. The probe generates test packets to emulate one or more applications, services, or devices communicating on the network.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for identifying a best path from a plurality of equal cost paths while accounting for service level agreement (SLA) metrics are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for routing a packet that has a payload using a node includes obtaining the packet, and adding an address of the node to the payload. Adding the address of the node to the payload creates an augmented packet. The method also includes identifying at least one element to which the augmented packet is to be routed, and providing the augmented packet to that element. In one embodiment, the method also includes storing ingress and egress timestamps associated with the node.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes obtaining a first packet that has a first payload. The first payload identifies a first path between endpoints traversed by the first packet, and identifying information associated with a first node associated with the first path traversed by the first packet. The identifying information includes an arrival time that identifies approximately when the first packet arrived at the first node and a leaving time that identifies approximately when the first packet left the first node. A first service level agreement (SLA) parameter of the first path is determined by analyzing the arrival time and the leaving time, comparing the first SLA parameter with a second SLA parameter associated with a second path traversed by a second probe packet, and selecting the first path for sending packets if the first SLA parameter indicates a higher SLA level than indicated by the second SLA parameter.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes obtaining a first packet that has a first payload. The first payload identifies a first path between endpoints traversed by the first packet, and identifying information associated with a first node associated with the first path traversed by the first packet. The identifying information includes an arrival time that identifies approximately when the first packet arrived at the first node and a leaving time that identifies approximately when the first packet left the first node. A first service level agreement (SLA) parameter of the first path is determined by analyzing the arrival time and the leaving time, comparing the first SLA parameter with a second SLA parameter associated with a second path traversed by a second probe packet, and selecting the first path for sending packets if the first SLA parameter indicates a higher SLA level than indicated by the second SLA parameter.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for identifying a best path from a plurality of equal cost paths while accounting for service level agreement (SLA) metrics are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for routing a packet that has a payload using a node includes obtaining the packet, and adding an address of the node to the payload. Adding the address of the node to the payload creates an augmented packet. The method also includes identifying at least one element to which the augmented packet is to be routed, and providing the augmented packet to that element. In one embodiment, the method also includes storing ingress and egress timestamps associated with the node.