Abstract: The techniques disclosed herein provision inter-DC WAN capacity based on network failure statistics and bandwidth demands of a cloud-hosted application. Network capacity is provisioned based on an assumption of runtime cooperation between the application and the network. For example, if the network detects that a link has failed, the application may cooperate with the network to pause a deferrable transfer, reserving bandwidth for non-deferrable transfers. With knowledge that deferrable transfers will be dynamically paused when a primary link fails, backup links may be provisioned with less capacity than the primary link. The ability to dynamically defer transfers also enables a greater degree of bandwidth smoothing, e.g. reducing peak demand by scheduling deferrable transfers for off-peak hours. This allows network links to be provisioned with less capacity than if all transfers were performed immediately.

Abstract: The techniques disclosed herein provision inter-DC WAN capacity based on network failure statistics and bandwidth demands of a cloud-hosted application. Network capacity is provisioned based on an assumption of runtime cooperation between the application and the network. For example, if the network detects that a link has failed, the application may cooperate with the network to pause a deferrable transfer, reserving bandwidth for non-deferrable transfers. With knowledge that deferrable transfers will be dynamically paused when a primary link fails, backup links may be provisioned with less capacity than the primary link. The ability to dynamically defer transfers also enables a greater degree of bandwidth smoothing, e.g. reducing peak demand by scheduling deferrable transfers for off-peak hours. This allows network links to be provisioned with less capacity than if all transfers were performed immediately.