On-demand diverse path computation for limited visibility computer networks

摘要

In one embodiment, a source device detects a packet flow that meets criteria for multi-path forwarding, and forwards a probe packet on a primary path from the source device to a destination device, the probe packet carrying an indication to cause a plurality of transit devices along the primary path to add their respective local neighbor topology to the forwarded probe packet, and also to cause the destination device to compute a diverse path from the primary path based on the accumulated local neighbor topologies in the probe packet. Accordingly, the source device may receive a returned diverse path as computed by the destination device in response to the probe packet, and may thus forward the packet flow on the primary path and the diverse path from the source device to the destination device according to the multi-path forwarding.

主权项

1. A method, comprising:
detecting, at a source device, a packet flow that meets criteria for multi-path forwarding; inserting a probe packet into a header of the packet flow; forwarding the packet flow on a primary path from the source device to a destination device, the probe packet carrying a multi-path forwarding indicator and a topology accumulation indicator to cause a plurality of transit devices along the primary path to add their respective local neighbor topology to the forwarded probe packet, and also to cause the destination device to compute a diverse path from the primary path based on the accumulated local neighbor topologies in the probe packet, wherein the probe packet is an initial packet of the packet flow; receiving, at the source device, a returned diverse path as computed by the destination device in response to the probe packet; and forwarding the packet flow on the primary path and the diverse path from the source device to the destination device according to the multi-path forwarding.