SaaS application clustering for path probing to support application-based routing

1. A method comprising:

clustering, by a device, traffic characteristics of traffic associated with a plurality of online applications into one or more clusters;

determining, by the device, representative traffic characteristics for a particular cluster in the one or more clusters;

generating, by the device and based on the representative traffic characteristics, a probing strategy for the plurality of online applications associated with the particular cluster, wherein the probing strategy specifies at least a frequency at which path probes are to be sent that is determined based on the representative traffic characteristics; and

causing, by the device, the path probes to be sent along one or more network paths in accordance with the probing strategy.

2. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the traffic characteristics for the particular cluster indicate a common location associated with its traffic.

3. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the traffic characteristics for the particular cluster indicate a common timeframe associated with its traffic.

4. The method as in claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, at the device, a probing optimization request from a software-defined networking (SDN) controller that indicates the plurality of online applications.

5. The method as in claim 1 , further comprising:

re-performing, by the device, the clustering, in response to an indication that one or more of the plurality of online applications has moved locations.

6. The method as in claim 1 , further comprising:

re-performing, by the device, the clustering, in response to a determination that the one or more clusters are no longer valid.

7. The method as in claim 1 , wherein generating the probing strategy comprises:

providing, by the device, an indication of the probing strategy to a user interface for approval.

8. The method as in claim 1 , wherein results of the path probes are used by an application-aware routing engine to make routing decisions for those online applications associated with the particular cluster.

9. The method as in claim 1 , further comprising:

providing, by the device, information regarding the particular cluster to a user interface; and

receiving, at the device and via the user interface, approval of the particular cluster.

10. An apparatus, comprising:

one or more network interfaces;

a processor coupled to the one or more network interfaces and configured to execute one or more processes; and

a memory configured to store a process that is executable by the processor, the process when executed configured to:

cluster traffic characteristics of traffic associated with a plurality of online applications into one or more clusters;

determine representative traffic characteristics for a particular cluster in the one or more clusters;

generate, based on the representative traffic characteristics, a probing strategy for the plurality of online applications associated with the particular cluster, wherein the probing strategy specifies at least a frequency at which path probes are to be sent that is determined based on the representative traffic characteristics; and

cause the path probes to be sent along one or more network paths in accordance with the probing strategy.

11. The apparatus as in claim 10 , wherein the traffic characteristics for the particular cluster indicate a common location associated with its traffic.

12. The apparatus as in claim 10 , wherein the traffic characteristics for the particular cluster indicate a common timeframe associated with its traffic.

13. The apparatus as in claim 10 , wherein the process when executed is further configured to:

receive a probing optimization request from a software-defined networking (SDN) controller that indicates the plurality of online applications.

14. The apparatus as in claim 10 , wherein the process when executed is further configured to:

re-perform clustering, in response to an indication that one or more of the plurality of online applications has moved locations.

15. The apparatus as in claim 10 , wherein the process when executed is further configured to:

re-perform the clustering, in response to a determination that the one or more clusters are no longer valid.

16. The apparatus as in claim 10 , wherein the apparatus generates the probing strategy by:

providing an indication of the probing strategy to a user interface for approval.

17. The apparatus as in claim 10 , wherein results of the path probes are used by an application-aware routing engine to make routing decisions for those online applications associated with the particular cluster.

18. A tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing program instructions that cause a device to execute a process comprising:

clustering, by the device, traffic characteristics of traffic associated with a plurality of online applications into one or more clusters;

determining, by the device, representative traffic characteristics for a particular cluster in the one or more clusters;

generating, by the device and based on the representative traffic characteristics, a probing strategy for the plurality of online applications associated with the particular cluster, wherein the probing strategy specifies at least a frequency at which path probes are to be sent that is determined based on the representative traffic characteristics; and

causing, by the device, the path probes to be sent along one or more network paths in accordance with the probing strategy.