Service-specific, performance-based routing

A first network device comprising:

• two or more communication ports;
• one or more processors;
• a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the first network device to:
• receive a first group of packets for forwarding to a second network device;
• retrieve packet-forwarding rules for forwarding the first group of packets;
• and
• select a first private network data tunnel from a plurality of private network data tunnels established between the first network device and the second network device, for forwarding a first packet of the first group of packets, wherein the first private network data tunnel satisfies the packet-forwarding rules, wherein each private network data tunnel of the plurality is associated with an active uplink of the first network device;
• forwarding the first packet to the second network device through the first private network data tunnel;
• receiving a first reply message from the second network device, through a second private network data tunnel of the plurality of private network data tunnels;
• selecting a third private network data tunnel from the plurality of private network data tunnels for forwarding remaining packets of the first group of packets to the second network device;
• and
• forwarding the remaining packets of the first group of packets to the second network device through the third private network data tunnel.

A

• non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the a processors cause a system to perform operations comprising:
• receive a first group of packets for forwarding to a second network device;
• retrieve packet-forwarding rules for forwarding the first group of packets;
• and
• select, by the first network device, a first private network data tunnel from a plurality of private network data tunnels simultaneously maintained between the first network device and the second network device, for forwarding a first packet of the first group of packets, wherein the first private network data tunnel satisfies the packet-forwarding rules, wherein the first private network data tunnel is associated with a first uplink of the first network device;
• forward the first packet to the second network device through the first private network data tunnel;
• receive a first reply message from the second network device, through a second private network data tunnel of the plurality of private network data tunnels;
• select a third private network data tunnel from the plurality of private network data tunnels for forwarding remaining packets of the first group of packets to the second network device;
• and
• forward the remaining packets of the first group of packets to the second network device through the third private network data tunnel.