Abstract: A system and method of relaying distress calls in a mesh network of nodes. The method includes discovering, by a target node of the mesh network, a plurality of neighboring nodes of the target node that each have one or more types of communication capabilities with the target node. The method includes detecting, by the target node, a failure event associated with a resource of the target node. The method includes broadcasting, by the target node, a distress call indicative of the failure event to one or more neighboring nodes of the plurality of neighboring nodes of the target node to cause the one or more neighboring nodes to redirect the distress call to an egress node of the mesh network.

Abstract: A method for forwarding a vector packet processing (VPP) is applicable to a forwarding path. The forwarding path includes an Ethernet entrance, a data plane development kit (DPDK) input end, an entrance labeling-and-categorizing plug-in unit, one or more intermediate nodes, a Tx output end, an exit labeling-and-categorizing plug-in unit, and an Ethernet exit. The vector packet processing forwarding method includes: executing a learning-and-recording mode for a preceding packet to obtain a learning result, and in the learning-and-recording mode, having the preceding packet entirely pass through the forwarding path; and executing an optimized acceleration mode for a subsequent packet, and in the optimized acceleration mode, based on the learning result, having the subsequent packet detour some intermediate nodes of the one or more intermediate nodes in the forwarding path.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method configures, at a first host, an overlay channel for sending packets to check whether a failure has occurred at a workload. The first host and a second host are connected via a layer 3 network. The first host generates a packet to check whether the failure has occurred at the workload and encapsulates the packet. The first host sends the encapsulated packet to the second host using the overlay channel via the layer 3 network. The packet is decapsulated and forwarded to the workload at the second host.

Abstract: A signaling gateway apparatus (SG) in an IP network, is directly connected to a group unit center (GC) in a PSTN in a layer of MTP level 3 without via a signaling transfer point (STP), converts a M2PA sequence number included in an XCO or an XCA which is a response to the XCO, to a sequence number with a value in a range from 0 to 127 which is a maximum value of a 7-bit unsigned integer and transmits the XCO or the XCA to an opposite apparatus.

Abstract: A method for assigning identifiers to switches in a stack includes detecting, by a switch, a terminal identifier stored in an optical module that is connected to a stack port of the switch, where the optical module is at one end of an optical cable; and if a condition is met, assigning, by the switch, identifiers to N stackable switches along a direction starting from the switch to another switch connected to the stack port, where the condition includes: a value of the terminal identifier is a specified value, and N is greater than or equal to 2. According to this application, an efficiency of assigning the identifiers to the switches in a stack can be improved.

Abstract: Described herein are systems, methods, and software to enhance failover operations in a cloud computing environment. In one implementation, a method of operating a first service instance in a cloud computing environment includes obtaining a communication from a computing asset, wherein the communication comprises a first destination address. The method further provides replacing the first destination address with a second destination address in the communication, wherein the second destination address comprises a shared address for failover from a second service instance. After replacing the address, the method determines whether the communication is permitted based on the second destination address, and if permitted, processes the communication in accordance with a service executing on the service instance.

Abstract: A system and method to distribute traffic flows among a plurality of applications in a data center system. An apparatus is operable with a plurality of applications connected through a programmable switch and is configured to select traffic flows to ones of the plurality of applications. The apparatus is also configured to monitor and collect statistics for the traffic flows to determine rule level statistics, and move at least one traffic flow of the traffic flows from a network interface to a different network interface based on the rule level statistics.

Abstract: A network management apparatus according to an embodiment includes: a storage unit configured to store information indicating a correspondence relationship between information objects related to a physical layer and information objects related to a logical layer in a network configuration, an acquisition unit configured to acquire a first information object related to a location where a failure occurs in the physical layer of the network configuration from the storage unit, an identification unit configured to identify, as a failure influence range, a second information object associated with the first information object related to the location where the failure occurs, of the information objects related to the logical layer stored in the storage unit, the first information object being acquired by the acquisition unit, and an outputting unit configured to output information indicating the failure influence range identified by the identification unit.

Abstract: Various example embodiments for supporting rerouting of packets in communication networks are presented. Various example embodiments for supporting rerouting of packets in communication networks may be configured to support rerouting of packets based on common node protection. Various example embodiments for supporting rerouting of packets based on common node protection may be configured to support rerouting of source routed packets in packet switched networks. Various example embodiments for supporting rerouting of packets based on common node protection may be configured to support rerouting of source routed packets based on segment routing (SR). Various example embodiments for supporting rerouting of packets based on common node protection may be configured to support rerouting of source routed packets based on SR-Traffic Engineering (SR-TE).

Abstract: Examples disclosed herein relate to managing a second ring link failure in a multi-ring Ethernet network. In an example, an inter-connection network node in a multi-ring Ethernet network comprising a major ring and a sub-ring may propagate a signal failure (SF) event, received in response to a second ring link failure in the major ring, to one or more nodes in the sub-ring. In response to receiving the SF event, a Ring Protection Link (RPL) on the sub-ring may be unlocked to allow network traffic through the RPL and avoid loop formation on the multi-ring Ethernet network. The sub-ring may be moved to the ring protection switching state, including performing a filtering database (FDB) flush at every node on the multi-ring Ethernet network whereby all MAC addresses and related port associations for traffic forwarding are cleared from the FDB.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for determining predictions from a graph of a network dataset. The graph of the network dataset may include nodes describing entities and edges describing connections or links between the entities. Predictions may be made using a dual-path convolution network that considers both node connectivity and node topology. Node topology includes assessment of similarities in topology roles between nodes in the graph, even nodes that reside in different parts of the graph. The node connectivity and node topology in the dual-path convolution may be aligned using a multi-head attention network. Outputs from previous layers of the multi-head attention network may be provided as inputs to subsequent layers of the dual-path convolution to mutually reinforce the convolutions determining node connectivity and node topology toward alignment.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for initiation, use, access, and control of functionality of a network. In one aspect, the systems and methods can be utilized to generate information defining signaling or control performance and operational characteristics associated with the functionality in a variety of network environments. In another aspect, based on such information, adaptive signaling can be utilized to monitor, analyze and detect specific signaling signatures associated with the functionality. Managing signaling or control messages in response to information collected by monitoring and analyzing the adaptive signaling permits originating or requesting the functionality without conventional operation of a network component.

Abstract: A wireless configuration network may be provided by a Wi-Fi hotspot active at the wireless access station. The Wi-Fi hotspot may be connected to by a wireless network-capable device, such as a tablet computer, e.g., an Apple iPad, or a Wi-Fi enabled smartphone, e.g., an Android or Apple iOS device. This allows a technician to stand on the ground below the wireless access station but still have access to various configuration features of the wireless access station. The wireless configuration network may also be referred to herein as a “debug SSID” or a “debug access point.

Abstract: A processor generates an abstract topology that represents domains in an actual topology of a network and border routers that interconnect the domains in the actual topology. The processor prunes, based on the abstract topology, one or more of the domains from the actual topology during path calculations on the actual topology. In some cases, the processor determines measures of reachability for the nodes to indicate whether the domains represented by the nodes represent are on a path from a source domain to a destination domain. The processor can then selectively prune a relationship to at least one edge in the actual topology or modify weights of edges between the nodes in the actual topology based on the ranks of the nodes in the abstract topology.

Abstract: Provided herein is a system and method for a sensor system on a vehicle. The sensor system comprises sensors connected with one another in a daisy chain communication network. The sensor system further comprises a controller connected to at least one of the sensors. The controller is configured to operate the vehicle based on data from the sensors and to operate the daisy chain communication network.

Abstract: Various example embodiments for supporting packet forwarding in communication networks are presented. Various example embodiments for supporting packet forwarding in communication networks may be configured to support forwarding of source routed packets in packet switched networks based on flexible path encoding. Various example embodiments for supporting forwarding of a source routed packet based on flexible path encoding may be configured to support forwarding of the source routed packets based on use of a bit string configured to encode the path for the source routed packet. Various example embodiments for supporting forwarding of source routed packets based on flexible path encoding may be configured to support forwarding of source routed packets based on various types of source routing, such as Segment Routing (SR), SR-Traffic Engineering (SR-TE), or the like.

Abstract: Examples disclosed herein relate to a method comprising detecting, by a bi-directional forwarding detection (BFD) protocol, a link failure of a link associated with a network device on a network. The method may include notifying, by the BFD protocol, a routing protocol and a hardware plugin about the link failure and identifying, by the routing protocol, an updated route for the network that does not include the network device. The method may also include deleting, by the hardware plugin, any routes programmed into a forwarding information base (FIB) including the first network device upon receiving the notification from the BFD protocol and installing, by the hardware plugin, the updated route into the FIB to be used for forwarding network traffic on the network.

Abstract: Provided are a message transmission method and apparatus. One message transmission method includes: jointly carrying a system message through physical broadcast channels in multiple periods, and transmitting the system message to a terminal, where each of the physical broadcast channels in the multiple periods respectively carries a part of information of the system message.

Abstract: One embodiment described herein provides a system and method for path control in a network. During operation, in response to determining that a path-control condition is met, an end host in the network can determine an offset value to be applied to a packet header of a packet, modify the packet header by applying the determined offset value, and forward the packet based on the modified packet header.

Abstract: In one embodiment, segment routing (SR) network processing of packets is performed which includes operations signaling and processing of packets in manners providing processing and/or memory efficiencies. One embodiment includes acquiring a segment routing particular packet by a particular router in a network. Responsive to the particular router data plane ascertained during fast path processing by a fast path processing unit that the segment routing particular packet is to be Operations, Administration, and Maintenance (OAM) processed by a different processing unit in the particular router, communicating a time stamp of a current time and the segment routing particular packet including a segment routing header that includes OAM signaling from said fast path processing to the different processing unit, with fast path processing being hardware-based packet processing by the fast path processing unit. The segment routing particular packet is OAM processing by the different processing unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a circuit within a switch, wherein the circuit includes a memory and a control circuit. The memory includes at least a first area and a second area, the first area is used to provide a minimum guaranteed storage space for each of a plurality of egress queues, the second area is used to provide a shared space of the plurality of egress queues. The control circuit is coupled to the memory, and when an input port of the switch receives an input packet and stores the input packet into the memory, the control circuit dynamically determines a size of the second area according to a number of the egress queues that the input packet is forwarded to.

Abstract: Techniques for linking managed object (MO) operations and lifecycle operations associated with VNFs (Virtual Network Functions) are discussed. In various actions, MO operations can trigger associated lifecycle operations, or lifecycle operations can trigger associated MO operations. In some aspects, MO instance creation by an EM (Element Manager) can trigger associated VNF instantiation by a VNFM (VNF Manager), or vice versa. In the same or other aspects, MO instance deletion by an EM can trigger termination of an associated VNF by a VNFM, or vice versa.

Abstract: A transmission apparatus, includes a plurality of input circuits, N+1 switches (N is a natural number of 2 or larger), and a plurality of output circuits, wherein a first input circuit divides inputted data into partial data in a predetermined length, and distributes to the N+1 switches continuous M pieces of partial data (M is a natural number of 2 or larger and N or smaller) and horizontal parities calculated over the M pieces of partial data for every the continuous M pieces of partial data obtained from the division, and a first output circuit restores the data inputted to the first input circuit and outputs the restored data using at least any of the M pieces of partial data and the horizontal parities which are distributed by the first input circuit to the N+1 switches and are transferred by the N+1 switches.

Abstract: An example network device includes a primary node and a standby node. The primary node engages in a routing session with a peer network device via a connected socket. The standby node includes one or more processors implemented in circuitry and configured to execute a backup replication module to receive, from the primary node, data to be written to a backup socket for the connected socket, and, in response to a switchover, to send a representation of the data to the peer network device via the backup socket.

Abstract: Techniques are described for managing a split-brain scenario in a multihomed environment by exchanging isolation information between a leaf device and two or more spine devices to which the leaf device is multihomed via a link aggregation group (LAG). The techniques include selecting one of the spine devices as a primary spine device and determining, based on the isolation information, whether the spine devices are isolated from each other. In the split-brain scenario in which all of the spine devices are isolated from each other, the primary spine device is configured to maintain the LAG with the leaf device while the other spine devices mark the LAG with the leaf device as down. In this way, in the split-brain scenario, the leaf device may continue to send traffic to other leaf devices in the leaf layer using the LAG to the primary spine device.

Abstract: A method for forwarding a packet, and a network device are provided. The method includes: receiving, a first packet, where the first packet includes first indication information, payload data, and a packet sequence number of the first packet in a data flow corresponding to the first packet; when the first network device determines that the first packet includes the first indication information, generating, a plurality of second packets based on the first packet, where each of the plurality of second packets includes the payload data, the packet sequence number, and second indication information; and separately forwarding, the plurality of second packets to a second network device over different forwarding paths in a plurality of forwarding paths.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a process and system for avoiding temporary traffic loss in a network having first and second computers and provider edge devices, by retaining, in each provider edge device, path information including a MAC address for the first host computer in a control plane as a dynamic address, and maintaining, in each provider edge device, its own routing table listing network addresses of the other provider edge devices as multi-homed peers. A failure recovery process in each provider edge devices advertises all multi-homed peer network addresses as addresses that each respective provider edge device has dynamically learnt in the control plane such that when a provider edge device receives a route with a locally connected host, it re-advertises the host address on its own.

Abstract: A network interface groups and encodes a plurality of bits into a plurality of bit blocks such that a number of bits within the fixed-length frame are available for use as parity bits in a fixed-length frame. The network interface device aggregates a first set of bit blocks and a second set of bit blocks into an aggregated bit block, and encodes a portion of the aggregated bit block using a first encoder to generate a first set of encoded bits according to a first error correction encoding scheme. The network interface device encodes a remaining portion of the aggregated bit block using a second encoder to generate a second set of encoded bits according to a second error correction encoding scheme. A number of parity bits generated by the first and second encoders does not exceed the number of bits in the fixed-length frame made available for use as parity bits.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of operating a software-defined network (SDN) controller located in a decentralized SDN including a plurality of SDN switches and a plurality of SDN controllers, the method including receiving a transaction including network event information from at least one SDN switch of the plurality of SDN switches, determining a block generation entity with at least one other SDN controller based on a consensus algorithm, and, when the SDN controller is determined as the block generation entity, generating a block including the transaction and propagating the block to the at least one other SDN controller and the plurality of SDN switches. Also, a corresponding method of operating a SDN switch is disclosed.

Abstract: A data management platform for Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) is provided. An AV can partition raw data into ingestion objects. The AV can transform the ingestion objects and generate associated manifests. The AV can offload first copies of the manifests in real-time to a data center. At a later time, the AV can offload second copies of the manifests to an AV servicing station. The station can upload the second copies to the data center. If the manifests match, then the station can notify the AV that it is safe to erase the manifests and transformed objects from local storage after offloading completes. If the manifests do not match and a Service Level Agreement (SLA) is violated, then the AV can be docked for further diagnosis. If no SLA is applicable, then the error can be annotated and the transformed objects can be discarded.

Abstract: A path detection method and apparatus for forwarding at least two layers of labels includes generating, by a first network device, a first request packet used for path detection, where the first request packet includes a label stack and a time to live (TTL), and an initial quantity of layers of the label stack matches an initial value of the TTL, and sending the first request packet, where the first request packet instructs a second network device to send a first response packet to the first network device when the TTL is 0 after being reduced by 1, and the first response packet reaches the first network device through an internet protocol route.

Abstract: A method performed by a physical computing system includes, with a first virtual entity manager of a first host machine, detecting an Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) request from a first virtual entity supported by the first virtual entity manager to a second virtual entity having a first logical address within a fan network. The method further includes, with the first virtual entity manager, translating the first logical address to a second logical address and transmitting the ARP request to a second host machine using a physical address resolved from the second logical address, the second host machine supporting the second virtual entity. The method further includes receiving a response to the ARP request, the response including a virtualized physical address of the second virtual entity. The method further includes with the first virtual entity manager, forwarding a data packet from the first virtual entity to the virtualized physical address.

Abstract: A network node has a graceful restart mode in which the node: sends a graceful restart notification to one or more neighbouring nodes; attempts to re-establish an adjacency with the neighbouring node(s); receives link state data from at least one of the neighbouring node(s), the received data being sent in response to said attempt; derives pre-restart link data from the received data, the derived data identifying formerly active links, including the node, for routing traffic before the restart; routes network traffic in accordance with routing information stored in the router; detects one or more links, of the formerly active links, which are currently inactive; continues with graceful restart after said detection; determines one or more links, of the formerly active links, which are currently active; and exits the graceful restart mode in response to successful re-establishment of adjacencies with a respective neighbouring node for each of the currently active link(s).

Abstract: The Fault Management (FM) in the Network Function Virtualization (NFV) environment may benefit from various methods. For example methods for fault escalation or de-escalation may be beneficial. A method can include requesting a change in a severity of a virtualized resource alarm. The method can also include deciding to change a severity of a virtualized resource alarm. The requesting the change in the severity can be based on the identified reason.

Abstract: A first route reflector client manager determines identifies that a distributed lock has been released, wherein the first route reflector client manager corresponds to a first route reflector client. In response to the determining that the distributed lock has been released, the first route reflector client manager retrieves the distributed lock. In response to retrieving the distributed lock the first route reflector client manager provisions the first route reflector client into a first route reflector. The first route reflector client manager advertises information corresponding to the provisioning of the first route reflector client into the first route reflector, wherein the advertising causes at least a second route reflector client to identify the first route reflector client as the first route reflector.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a processor, a first interface configured to connect to a bus of the apparatus, a second interface configured to communicate over a packet network, and circuitry. The circuitry is configured to, in a first operational mode, exchange data between the processor and one or more remote devices over the packet network, via the second interface, and in a second operational mode, monitor the bus using the first interface, detect a predefined trigger event occurring on the bus and, in response to detecting the trigger event, log one or more transactions on the bus that are adjacent to the trigger event and generate one or more protocol-analysis packets comprising at least part of the logged transactions.

Abstract: A material medium, such as an optical fiber or electrical cable, is used to carry services. The material medium is monitored with at least one diagnostic sensor. The diagnostic sensor may measure the operational health of the material medium, or may measure local environmental conditions around the material medium.

Abstract: A communication network on board a vehicle is a deterministic switched Ethernet network using virtual links, including a set of subscriber devices and a set of switches in which communications are performed redundantly. To manage redundancy, each data frame transmitted on a virtual link includes a frame number in a numbering field of the frame. The transmitter and/or receiver subscriber devices on the virtual link take into account a length of the numbering field equal to a first predetermined length when the BAG value associated with the virtual link is greater than or equal to a predetermined BAG value, otherwise equal to a second predetermined length greater than the first length.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an information processing method, a server, and a computer storage medium. The method includes: collecting first information; selecting from the first information at least one information material, and generating, according to the first information material, a media information form template supporting at least two types of scenario presentation requirements; receiving a first request for the information material initiated by a data traffic monitor; sending the information material and the media information form template to the data traffic monitor; and generating a presentation result according to the information material and the media information form template.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a technique for load balancing of throughput for multi-PHY networks using decision trees is provided. A first device of a mesh communication network may collect at least one transmission metric indicative of a primary link and a secondary link between the first device and a second device of the mesh communication network. The first device may provide the at least one transmission metric as input to one or more decision trees comprising one or more attributes that are each indicative of a threshold for a corresponding transmission metric. The first device may obtain an output from the decision tree comprising a selection of either the primary link or the secondary link. The first device may send, based on the output from the decision tree, one or more packets to the second device using the selected link.

Abstract: Systems and methods for InfiniBand fabric optimizations to minimize SA access and startup failover times. A system can comprise one or more microprocessors, a first subnet, the first subnet comprising a plurality of switches, a plurality of host channel adapters, a plurality of hosts, and a subnet manager, the subnet manager running on one of the one or more switches and the plurality of host channel adapters. The subnet manager can be configured to determine that the plurality of hosts and the plurality of switches support a same set of capabilities. On such determination, the subnet manager can configure an SMA flag, the flag indicating that a condition can be set for each of the host channel adapter ports.

Abstract: A system, method and program product for electronic communication includes checking and determining if a current called number of a subscriber is on a list of recent calls made by an onward caller where either the onward caller or the receiving caller enter a certain combination of symbols using the onward calling device or the receiving device respectively when the call is in progress. Calling route used to establish a connection between the onward caller and the subscriber is concluded as a low-quality route. Subscriber ID is extracted and included on the list of low quality routes. Request is made for a list of all possible routes for communication between the onward caller and receiver user. A comparison of the list of all possible routes and low quality routes is made. A route not earlier marked as a low-quality route is identified and selected. An electronic communication between the onward caller and receiving user is established using the selected route.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for validating routing table information in a network. A network assurance appliance may be configured to retrieve routing table information from a plurality of nodes in a network fabric. The routing table information includes path information from at least one source node to at least one destination node. A graph representation of the routing table information is constructed with the at least one destination node as a sink vertex for the graph representation. The network assurance appliance determines, for each leaf node in the network fabric, whether the leaf node can reach the sink vertex based on the graph representation and determines that there is a misconfiguration of the network fabric based on whether each leaf node in the fabric can reach the sink vertex.

Abstract: Systems and methods for capturing and distributing a live audio stream of a live event in real-time to a plurality of mobile computing devices are described. The system comprises at least one memory configured to store computer-executable instructions and processing device(s) coupled to the at least one memory and at least one audio input device configured to receive the live audio stream. Upon receipt of the live audio stream, the processing device(s) generate, in real-time, a plurality of discrete audio data packets from the live audio stream, and transmit that respective discrete audio data packet over a first network for receipt by the mobile computing devices. In respect of each one of the discrete audio data packets, a copy of the discrete audio data packet is transmitted for receipt by each one of the mobile computing devices prior to transmitting another one of the discrete audio data packets.

Abstract: A radio frequency power source according to an exemplary embodiment includes a power generator configured to generate radio frequency power. The radio frequency power includes a plurality of power components. The plurality of power components respectively have a plurality of frequencies set symmetrically with respect to a fundamental frequency at an interval of a predetermined frequency. The envelope of the radio frequency power has peaks that periodically appear at a time interval defined by the predetermined frequency or a frequency that is a multiple of twice or more the predetermined frequency. The power level of the radio frequency power is set to be zero in a period excluding a period between a zero-cross region of the envelope immediately before a point in time of appearance of each of the peaks and a zero-cross region of the envelope immediately after the point in time of the appearance.

Abstract: A system for switching from a first communication session between two endpoints to a secondary communication session when media degradation is detected is disclosed. A first endpoint is included within a first enterprise network and a second endpoint is included within a second enterprise network. The first enterprise network includes a call controller and a plurality of session border controllers (SBCs). The SBC in the first communication session detects media degradation and notifies the first endpoint of the media degradation. The first endpoint directs the call controller to establish a secondary communication session with the second endpoint when there is sufficient media degradation. The call controller directs a second SBC to establish the secondary communication session with the second endpoint. When the secondary communication session is established, the call controller directs the first endpoint to send media data using the second SBC.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a channel measurement and measurement result reporting method and device. According to the method, terminal equipment measures a channel of an unlicensed frequency band according to configuration information, wherein the terminal equipment is in an idle state. The terminal equipment transmits a measurement result of the unlicensed frequency band to network equipment. When the network equipment is required to configure the channel of the unlicensed frequency band to be a secondary carrier of the terminal equipment, the number of interaction signalings between the terminal equipment and the network equipment may be reduced, thereby reducing signaling overhead, and increasing an access rate and access efficiency of an unlicensed frequency band channel carrier.

Abstract: A network element includes a client port configured to receive a signal for transmission; a line port configured to transmit the signal to a far end via Optical Transport Network (OTN); circuitry configured to communicate one or more of a fault and a status associated with the signal to the far end via OTN overhead. The circuitry configured to communicate can be for the fault and utilizes one or more Tandem Connection Monitoring (TCM) layers in the OTN overhead. The circuitry configured to communicate can be for the status and utilizes one or more of Optical Data Unit (ODU) Performance Monitoring (PM) and one or more Tandem Connection Monitoring (TCM) layers.

Abstract: Systems and methods for building a monitoring fabric are described. The system receives a duplicate of a first portion of traffic information from a first network as first traffic information and communicates the first traffic information in the monitoring fabric. The first traffic information is communicated to a controller that configures the monitoring fabric. The system receives a duplicate of a second portion of the traffic information from the first network as second traffic information. The system forwards the second traffic information to at least one tool.

Abstract: Techniques for detecting path failures and reducing packet loss as a result of such failures are described for use within a data center or other environment. For example, a source and/or destination access node may create and/or maintain information about health and/or connectivity for a plurality of ports or paths between the source and destination device and core switches. The source access node may spray packets over a number of paths between the source access node and the destination access node. The source access node may use the information about connectivity for the paths between the source or destination access nodes and the core switches to limit the paths over which packets are sprayed. The source access node may spray packets over paths between the source access node and the destination access node that are identified as healthy, while avoiding paths that have been identified as failed.