Topology aware route control
The present invention uses proxy points for measuring different routes to a destination address space. Multiple paths to the desired destination address space are identified. Each path begins at a source and terminates at the destination address space. Proxy points are identified for each path and are associated with a point between the source and the destination address space. Measurements of the path performance from each source to the appropriate proxy point are compared to determine an optimum route.
1. A method for analyzing routes to a destination address space, comprising:
identifying a plurality of paths, each path beginning at a different source and terminating at a common destination address space;
identifying a plurality of nodes for each of the plurality of paths;
identifying at least one convergence point between at least two of the paths, wherein the convergence point is a common node for the at least two paths, said at least two paths being non-diverse from the convergence point to the destination address space;
associating the convergence point with the destination address space;
determining a path performance for each of the at least two paths, wherein the path performance is based on a path performance from the source of each path to the convergence point; and
analyzing the at least two paths to the destination address space.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein analyzing the at least two paths to the destination address space, comprises selecting a route to the destination address space based upon the relative path performances for the at least two paths.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the at least two paths include a first path and a second path and wherein selecting a route to the destination address space based upon the relative path performances for the at least two paths comprises selecting the first path, further comprising:
determining a current path performance for the first path;
comparing the current path performance to the path performance for the first path; and
based upon the comparison, selecting the second path as the route to the destination address space.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein analyzing the at least two paths to the destination address space, comprises determining diversity for the at least two paths.
5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising analyzing path length for the at least two paths.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein analyzing the at least two paths to the destination address space provides network topology information that is used in connection with network planning activities.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein analyzing the at least two paths to the destination address space provides information used to evaluate distance and volume for a plurality of destinations, including the destination address space.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
periodically determining the path performance for each of the at least two paths.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining an aggregated address space that includes the destination address space and that is associated with the convergence point.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining an aggregated address space that includes the destination address space, that is associated with multiple convergence points and that shares a common next hop.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying a plurality of paths comprises using an active path trace probe.
12. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying a plurality of paths comprises using a passive flow analyzer.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least two paths include a first path, further comprising:
associating the convergence point with additional destination address spaces; and
obtaining path performance information for the destination address space and the additional destination address spaces using a single measurement of the first path.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of paths pass through at least one public Internet Protocol network.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein the at least one Internet Protocol network is a network of an Internet Service Provider.
16. The method of claim 14 wherein the at least one Internet Protocol network is a Local Area Network.