Conflict avoidant traffic routing in a network environment

Non-transitory tangible media that includes instructions for execution, which when executed by a processor of a network element located in a network, is operable to perform operations comprising:

• receiving, at the network element, traffic between two endpoints, wherein the traffic is to be forwarded from the network element to a peer network element in the network according to a forwarding decision at the network element, the network element including a network interface for coupling to the peer network element in the network, wherein the network element and the peer network element are intermediary nodes through which the traffic is intended to be routed in the network between the two endpoints;
• mounting, over the network interface and onto local memory of the network element, rules for forwarding the traffic which are stored in the peer network element, the rules including an asserted intent and an implemented intent;
• detecting, at the network element, an intent conflict that exists at the peer network element for forwarding the traffic at the peer network element by analyzing the mounted rules from the peer network element for inconsistencies between the asserted intent for forwarding the traffic and the implemented intent for forwarding the traffic, wherein the peer network element cannot forward the traffic until the intent conflict is resolved;
• changing the forwarding decision at the network element to steer traffic around the peer network element;
• and
• forwarding the traffic away from the peer network element.

An apparatus of a network element, the apparatus comprising:

• a network interface for coupling to a peer network element in a network, wherein the network element and the peer network element are intermediary nodes through which traffic is intended to be routed in the network between two endpoints;
• a processor coupled to the network interface and configured to perform operations including:
• receiving the traffic which is to be forwarded to the peer network element according to a forwarding decision at the network element;
• mounting, over the network interface and onto local memory of the network element, rules for forwarding the traffic which are stored in the peer network element, the rules including an asserted intent and an implemented intent;
• detecting an intent conflict that exists at the peer network element for forwarding the traffic at the peer network element by analyzing the mounted rules from the peer network element for inconsistencies between the asserted intent for forwarding the traffic and the implemented intent for forwarding the traffic, wherein the peer network element cannot forward the traffic until the intent conflict is resolved;
• changing the forwarding decision at the network element to steer traffic around the peer network element;
• and
• forwarding the traffic away from the peer network element.