Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for improving network packet transmission performance in terms of latency with reduced packet retransmission times and fewer packet drops in congested networks are provided. Packet-switched networks can experience long delays while waiting for out-of-order packets or re-transmissions of lost packets. In addition, network faults such as transmission path failures can result in excessive delay while attempting to find a new route over which to transmit packets. To improve packet transmission performance, application data may be encapsulated into first network packets by a first transport protocol having an interface exposed to the application, in the first network packets may be encapsulated into second network packets according to a second transport protocol. The second transport protocol can enable the second network packets of a same packet flow to be transmitted across multiple paths over the network.

Abstract: A network interface adapter can select between a first transport protocol and a second transport protocol to transmit a network packet based on a state of a connection to a destination address for the second transport protocol. The second transport protocol encapsulates the network packet formatted in the first transport protocol. The network interface adapter can automatically use the second transport protocol when the state of the connection is in an active state, and the first transport protocol when the state of the connection is not in the active state.