Abstract: In one embodiment, a link utilization threshold is assigned to a first link. Link utilization of the first link and of one or more second links is monitored. The first link is considered to be out-of-policy (OOP) in the event that the link utilization of the first link surpasses the link utilization threshold. In response to the first link being considered OOP, action is taken. An excess utilization of the first link is determined. One or more prefixes currently routed over the first link whose collective per prefix utilization exceeds the excess utilization are determined. Provided that the collective per prefix utilization of the one or more prefixes currently routed over the first link, if added to the link utilization of the one or more second links, would not cause the one or more second links to be considered OOP, the one or more prefixes are redirected over them.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a network device (e.g., a master controller) may detect an event on a current path in a computer network from a local network domain to a destination address prefix of a remote domain. In response, the device may dynamically (e.g., intelligently) determine a trace target destination address within the destination address prefix, and may perform (or request performance of) a Traceroute of the current path and a selection of alternate paths in the network from the local network domain to the trace target, where the Traceroute is adapted to obtain per-hop measurements along the respective traced path. The measurements may then be stored, for example, to be used for optimal path selection, fault identification reporting, etc.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes obtaining a first packet included in a flow to be forwarded to a border router, and replicating the first packet to create a duplicate. The first packet is forwarded onto a first set of links, and the duplicate is forwarded onto a second set of links, to the border router. First information relating to the first packet and the first set of links, and second information relating to the duplicate and the second set of links, is obtained. The first information and the second information are used to determine whether to forward the flow on the first set of links. The first set of links is used to forward the flow if it is determined that the first set of links is to be used to forward the flow, otherwise the second set of links is used to forward the flow.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a network device (e.g., a master controller) may detect an event on a current path in a computer network from a local network domain to a destination address prefix of a remote domain. In response, the device may dynamically (e.g., intelligently) determine a trace target destination address within the destination address prefix, and may perform (or request performance of) a Traceroute of the current path and a selection of alternate paths in the network from the local network domain to the trace target, where the Traceroute is adapted to obtain per-hop measurements along the respective traced path. The measurements may then be stored, for example, to be used for optimal path selection, fault identification reporting, etc.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a network device (e.g., a master controller) may detect an event on a current path in a computer network from a local network domain to a destination address prefix of a remote domain. In response, the device may dynamically (e.g., intelligently) determine a trace target destination address within the destination address prefix, and may perform (or request performance of) a Traceroute of the current path and a selection of alternate paths in the network from the local network domain to the trace target, where the Traceroute is adapted to obtain per-hop measurements along the respective traced path. The measurements may then be stored, for example, to be used for optimal path selection, fault identification reporting, etc.

Abstract: In one embodiment, two or more links, coupled to a first service provider (SP) that charges a price for utilization of services according to a first pricing structure, are combined to form a single virtual combined link. Each of the two or more links of the virtual combined link and one or more other links, coupled to a second SP that charges a price for utilization of services according to a second pricing structure, are monitored to obtain link data. The link data for the two of more links of the virtual combined link is merged to form link data for the virtual combined link. Data distribution among the virtual combined link and the one or more other links is optimized to distribute data among the virtual combined link and the one or more other links in a manner that minimizes cost.

Abstract: In one embodiment, performance parameters may be determined for each of a plurality of network address prefixes in a computer network. Based on the respective performance parameters, the prefixes may be resized through at least one of consolidation of adjacent prefixes and splitting of prefixes, and traffic may then be routed in the computer network based on the resized prefixes.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes obtaining a first packet included in a flow to be forwarded to a border router, and replicating the first packet to create a duplicate. The first packet is forwarded onto a first set of links, and the duplicate is forwarded onto a second set of links, to the border router. First information relating to the first packet and the first set of links, and second information relating to the duplicate and the second set of links, is obtained. The first information and the second information are used to determine whether to forward the flow on the first set of links. The first set of links is used to forward the flow if it is determined that the first set of links is to be used to forward the flow, otherwise the second set of links is used to forward the flow.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a link utilization threshold is assigned to a first link. Link utilization of the first link and of one or more second links is monitored. The first link is considered to be out-of-policy (OOP) in the event that the link utilization of the first link surpasses the link utilization threshold. In response to the first link being considered OOP, action is taken. An excess utilization of the first link is determined. One or more prefixes currently routed over the first link whose collective per prefix utilization exceeds the excess utilization are determined. Provided that the collective per prefix utilization of the one or more prefixes currently routed over the first link, if added to the link utilization of the one or more second links, would not cause the one or more second links to be considered OOP, the one or more prefixes are redirected over them.

Abstract: In one embodiment, two or more links, coupled to a first service provider (SP) that charges a price for utilization of services according to a first pricing structure, are combined to form a single virtual combined link. Each of the two or more links of the virtual combined link and one or more other links, coupled to a second SP that charges a price for utilization of services according to a second pricing structure, are monitored to obtain link data. The link data for the two of more links of the virtual combined link is merged to form link data for the virtual combined link. Data distribution among the virtual combined link and the one or more other links is optimized to distribute data among the virtual combined link and the one or more other links in a manner that minimizes cost.

Abstract: A technique dynamically applies a link utilization based policy to traffic traversing links in a computer network. According to the novel technique, a link utilization threshold is assigned to one or more links. The link utilization threshold may be, for example, a maximum amount of traffic for an individual link, or a maximum difference between links (e.g., for load balanced traffic). The link utilization of the one or more links may be monitored, such as, e.g., by an optimized edge routing (OER) process. In the event that the link utilization surpasses the threshold, the link is considered to be out-of-policy (OOP), and traffic may be redirected to other available links accordingly in order to bring the link back in policy (“IN-POLICY”).

Abstract: A technique performs route optimization of services provided by one or more service providers (SPs) for communication links that are combined in a computer network. According to the novel technique, performance characteristics and statistics (“link data”) for two or more combined links are merged to form link data for a single “virtual combined link.” Route optimization techniques (e.g., priority-based route optimization) may then be applied to one or more virtual combined links based on the combined link data, in addition to link data for zero or more conventional single links (physical or virtual). Illustratively, a route optimization technique may be used in accordance with the present invention to efficiently and accurately minimize costs associated with services provided by a plurality of SPs, wherein each SP charges for utilization of its service based on a tiered pricing structure.

Abstract: In one embodiment, probe messages may be transmitted from a local domain to a set of one or more responding probe targets located beyond a plurality of probed first-hop domains of the local domain, the probe messages transmitted via each of a plurality of probed first-hop domains. A reliability of each probed first-hop domain may then be determined based on responsiveness of probe messages transmitted via each respective probed first-hop domain, such that traffic destined beyond the probed first-hop domains may be load balanced across the probed first-hop domains based on the respective reliability, regardless of a traffic-class and a destination of the traffic.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a first set of one or more control policies at a control server of a network domain may be transmitted to a routing master controller of the network domain, which uses a second set of one or more traffic policies to determine optimal paths for directing traffic through the domain. The routing master controller may then generate a third set of one or more integrated policies based on the first and second sets of policies, e.g., based on the knowledge and policies of both the control server and the routing master controller.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a plurality of connections couple to a plurality of service providers (SPs) that each provide services at a cost. The cost of the services of each SP is determined according to a tiered pricing structure that includes one or more tiers. Each tier correlates a particular amount of data transferred with the SP to a particular cost. A data collector collects measurement data that indicates an amount of data transferred with each SP. A processor selects a target tier in the tiered pricing structure of each SP based on the measurement data. The processor also generates a momentary target utilization rate (MTUR) for each SP based on the target tier for the SP and the measurement data. The processor then distributes utilization of services among the SPs based on the MTUR and tiered pricing structure of each SP to minimize the cost of the services provided by the SPs.

Abstract: In one embodiment, performance parameters may be determined for each of a plurality of network address prefixes in a computer network. Based on the respective performance parameters, the prefixes may be resized through at least one of consolidation of adjacent prefixes and splitting of prefixes, and traffic may then be routed in the computer network based on the resized prefixes.

Abstract: In one embodiment, performance measurements may be obtained at a local domain from a set of one or more responding targets of a particular remote domain. The performance measurements may then be applied to prefix-specific policies of any corresponding destination address prefix within the particular remote domain, such that traffic destined to a particular prefix of the particular remote domain may be routed from the local domain based on the corresponding prefix-specific policies and applied performance measurements.

Abstract: In one embodiment, probe messages may be transmitted from a local domain to a set of one or more responding probe targets located beyond a plurality of probed first-hop domains of the local domain, the probe messages transmitted via each of a plurality of probed first-hop domains. A reliability of each probed first-hop domain may then be determined based on responsiveness of probe messages transmitted via each respective probed first-hop domain, such that traffic destined beyond the probed first-hop domains may be load balanced across the probed first-hop domains based on the respective reliability, regardless of a traffic-class and a destination of the traffic.

Abstract: In one embodiment, performance measurements may be obtained at a local domain from a set of one or more responding targets of a particular remote domain. The performance measurements may then be applied to prefix-specific policies of any corresponding destination address prefix within the particular remote domain, such that traffic destined to a particular prefix of the particular remote domain may be routed from the local domain based on the corresponding prefix-specific policies and applied performance measurements.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a first set of one or more control policies at a control server of a network domain may be transmitted to a routing master controller of the network domain, which uses a second set of one or more traffic policies to determine optimal paths for directing traffic through the domain. The routing master controller may then generate a third set of one or more integrated policies based on the first and second sets of policies, e.g., based on the knowledge and policies of both the control server and the routing master controller.