Load balancing for multipath groups routed flows by re-associating routes to multipath groups

A device, comprising:

• interfaces, each configured to output network packets;
• a memory storing:
• a first multipath group associated with the interfaces, the first multipath group also being associated with a first way of distributing the network packets among the interfaces;
• and
• a routing table containing routes including a first route and a second route to the first multipath group;
• congestion detection logic configured to determine that an interface of the first multipath group is congested from a flow of network packets, the flow of network packets directed to the first multipath group from the first route of the routing table;
• congestion avoidance logic configured to:
• upon determining that the interface of the first multipath group is congested, dissociate the first route from the first multipath group and associate the first route with a second multipath group, the second multipath group associated with the interfaces of the first multipath group, the second multipath group also being associated with a second way of distributing the network packets among the interfaces, the second way being different from the first way;
• and
• maintain the association between the second route and the first multipath group,
• wherein the first route is associated with the second multipath group to divert a flow of network packets to the second multipath group instead of to the first multipath group.

A method, comprising:

• associating, by a device, several routes including a first route and a second route with a first multipath group, the first multipath group including interfaces, each of the interfaces being configured to output network packets, and the first multipath group being associated with a first way of distributing the network packets among the interfaces;
• determining that one of the interfaces is experiencing congestion from a flow of network packets directed to the first multipath group from the first route of the routing table;
• and
• upon determining that the one of the interfaces is experiencing congestion, dissociating the first route from the first multipath group, associating the first route with a second multipath group, and maintaining the association between the second route with the first multipath group, the second multipath group associated with the interfaces of the first multipath group, and the second multipath group also being associated with a second way of distributing the network packets among the interfaces, the second way being different from the first way;
• and
• wherein the first route is associated with the second multipath group to divert network packets from being directed to the first multipath group and instead to the second multipath group.