SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPTIMIZING PATHS IN A NETWORK
A device optimizes the path by receiving path information for the path that includes a series of connections between network elements that enable data to be communicated between the device and another device. The device additionally identifies a path priority from the path information and a plurality of forwarding options for the path from the path information. Furthermore, the device selects one of the plurality of forwarding options using the path priority. In addition, the device configures one of the plurality of forwarding options for the path on one of the plurality of network elements, where the device communicates data to the other device using the path and the selected forwarding option.
1 . A non-transitory machine-readable medium having executable instructions to cause one or more processing units to perform a method of optimizing a path between two devices that traverses a plurality of network elements in a network, the method comprising:
receiving path information for the path that includes a series of connections between network elements that enable data to be communicated between the two devices;
identifying a path priority from the path information;
identifying a plurality of forwarding options for the path from the path information;
selecting one of the plurality of forwarding options using the path priority; and
configuring one of the plurality of forwarding options for the path on one of the plurality of network elements, wherein the devices communicate data between the two device using the path and the selected forwarding option.
2 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the path information further includes a characteristic about the path that is selected from the group consisting of a quality of service applied to the path and an access control list applied to the path.
3 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of forwarding options is a plurality of equal cost segments of the path and each of the plurality of equal cost segment are between the same devices.
4 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of equal cost segments of the path are equal cost multipaths.
5 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 4 , wherein configuring the one of the plurality of network elements comprises:
configuring the one of the plurality of network elements to forward data along this path using one of the equal cost multipaths.
6 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 5 , wherein configuring the one of the plurality of network elements further comprises:
configuring other paths to use other ones of the equal cost multipaths.
7 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 1 , further comprising:
marking the data to be communicated on the path;
deciding which of the plurality of forwarding options to use based on the marking; and
transmitting the data using the selected one of the plurality of forwarding options.
8 . A method of optimizing a path between two devices that traverses a plurality of network elements in a network, the method comprising:
receiving path information for the path that includes a series of connections between network elements that enable data to be communicated between the two devices;
identifying a path priority from the path information;
identifying a plurality of forwarding options for the path from the path information;
selecting one of the plurality of forwarding options using the path priority; and configuring one of the plurality of forwarding options for the path on one of the plurality of network elements, wherein the devices communicate data between the two device using the path and the selected forwarding option.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the path information further includes a characteristic about the path that is selected from the group consisting of a quality of service applied to the path and an access control list applied to the path.
10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of forwarding options is a plurality of equal cost segments of the path and each of the plurality of equal cost segment are between the same devices.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of equal cost segments of the path are equal cost multipaths.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein configuring the one of the plurality of network elements comprises:
configuring the one of the plurality of network elements to forward data along this path using one of the equal cost multipaths.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein configuring the one of the plurality of network elements further comprises:
configuring other paths to use other ones of the equal cost multipaths.
14 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
marking the data to be communicated on the path;
deciding which of the plurality of forwarding options to use based on the marking; and
transmitting the data using the selected one of the plurality of forwarding options.
15 . A device that optimizes a path between two devices that traverses a plurality of network elements in a network, the device comprising:
a processor;
a memory coupled to the processor though a bus; and
a process executed from the memory by the processor causes the processor to receive path information for the path that includes a series of connections between network elements that enable data to be communicated between the two devices, identify a path priority from the path information, identify a plurality of forwarding options for the path from the path information, select one of the plurality of forwarding options using the path priority, and configure one of the plurality of forwarding options for the path on one of the plurality of network elements, wherein the devices communicate data between the two device using the path and the selected forwarding option.
16 . The device of claim 15 , wherein the path information further includes a characteristic about the path that is selected from the group consisting of a quality of service applied to the path and an access control list applied to the path.
17 . The device of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of forwarding options is a plurality of equal cost segments of the path and each of the plurality of equal cost segment are between the same devices.
18 . The device of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of equal cost segments of the path are equal cost multipaths.
19 . The device of claim 18 , wherein the processor configures the one of the plurality of network elements by configuring the one of the plurality of network elements to forward data along this path using one of the equal cost multipaths.
20 . The device of claim 19 , wherein processor configures the one of the plurality of network elements by configuring other paths to use other ones of the equal cost multipaths.