摘要 |
Method and apparatus for performing load spreading in a network are described. According to one embodiment, a request to allocate network resources for a flow is received from a load distribution module in an edge network element. The request includes a resource requirement for the flow. A path is selected from the currently available equal cost paths, and a path identifier value that represents the path selected is determined. The path identifier value is used by the nodes in the network to correctly perform multipath forwarding for the flow. The path identifier value that represents the path selected is communicated to the load distribution module in the edge network element, and is to be inserted by the edge network element into subsequent frames belonging to the flow to be used in subsequent forwarding decisions by nodes along the path selected.
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