Probe packet discovery of entropy values causing specific paths to be taken through a network

摘要

In one embodiment, probe-packet discovery of entropy values causing specific paths to be taken through a network is performed. One embodiment sends, from a first network node to a second network node in a network, a plurality of Equal Cost Multipath (ECMP) path-taken probe packets, each with a different entropy label, to determine a particular entropy label for each particular ECMP path of a plurality of different ECMP paths between the first network node and the second network node that will cause a packet including the particular entropy label to traverse said particular ECMP path. The ECMP paths taken by the plurality of ECMP path-taken probe packets is analyzed to determine one or more entropy labels for each different ECMP path of the plurality of different ECMP paths that will cause a packet including one of said one or more entropy labels to traverse said different ECMP path.

主权项

1. A method, comprising:
sending, from a first network node to a second network node in a network, a plurality of Equal Cost Multipath (ECMP) path-taken probe packets, each with a different entropy label, to determine a particular entropy label for each particular ECMP path of a plurality of different ECMP paths between the first network node and the second network node that will cause a packet including the particular entropy label to traverse said particular ECMP path; and analyzing the ECMP paths taken by the plurality of ECMP path-taken probe packets to determine one or more entropy labels for each different ECMP path of the plurality of different ECMP paths that will cause a packet, including one of said one or more entropy labels, to traverse said different ECMP path; wherein one or more other nodes along said particular ECMP path perform ECMP forwarding based on an entropy label included in a packet.