Predicting application quality of experience metrics using adaptive machine learned probes

A network device comprising:

• a memory configured to store a reference data store that includes data indicative of a plurality of probe packet sizes and a corresponding set of one or more metrics for each of a plurality of Wide Area Network (WAN) links;
• and
• one or more processors in communication with the memory, the one or more processors configured to:
• in response to receiving an application data packet of a data flow, determine whether a packet size of the application data packet is represented in the reference data store;
• in response to determining that the packet size is not represented in the reference data store, predict, based on at least a portion of the one or more metrics included in the reference data store, flow metrics for the packet size for each of the plurality of WAN links;
• select, based on the predicted flow metrics, a WAN link of the plurality of WAN links on which to send the application data packet;
• and
• for each of the plurality of WAN links:
• send, to the respective WAN link, a plurality of probe packets that includes a probe packet having the packet size to obtain an updated set of one or more metrics for the respective WAN link that includes metrics for the packet size;
• and
• update the reference data store to include the updated set of one or more flow metrics for the each of the plurality of probe packets for the respective WAN link.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions thereon that when executed cause one or more processors, via execution of a software-defined networking (SDN) device, to:

• in response to receiving, by a network device, an application data packet of a data flow, determine whether a packet size of the application data packet is represented in a reference data store, wherein the reference data store includes data indicative of a plurality of probe packet sizes and a corresponding set of one or more metrics for each of a plurality of Wide Area Network (WAN) links;
• in response to determining that the packet size is not represented in the reference data store, predict, based on at least a portion of the one or more metrics included in the reference data store, flow metrics for the packet size for each of the plurality of WAN links;
• select, based on the predicted flow metrics, a WAN link of the plurality of WAN links on which to send the application data packet;
• and
• for each of the plurality of WAN links:
• send, to the respective WAN link, a plurality of probe packets that includes a probe packet having the packet size to the respective WAN link to obtain an updated set of one or more metrics for the respective WAN link that includes metrics for the packet size;
• and
• update the reference data store to include the updated set of one or more flow metrics for the each of the plurality of probe packets for the respective WAN link.