Context-aware path computation and selection

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions, which when executed by a processing device, cause the processing device to perform a method comprising:

• receiving, by a path management hub, link performance metrics from each of a plurality of proxy server nodes that form a mesh network, wherein each of the plurality of nodes forms a portion of the mesh network via a link to each of two or more other nodes within the plurality of proxy server nodes, and wherein the link performance metrics represent a plurality of link performance metric types;
• evaluating, by the path management hub in response to receiving the link performance metrics, a plurality of potential paths between respective first and second nodes within the plurality of proxy server nodes using the received link performance metrics to determine optimal paths for each of a plurality of metric types and/or a combination of metric types;
• determining, by the path management hub, a context representing one or more link performance metric types to be given preference for a service;
• mapping, by the path management hub, a service identifier for the service to a plurality of the optimal paths between the first and second nodes using the one or more link performance metric types of the determined context;
• transmitting, from the path management hub to the first node:
• a respective next hop for each of the plurality of optimal paths, and
• a mapping between each respective next hop and the service identifier;
• receiving, by the first node from the path management hub, the service identifier mapped to a plurality of next hops for the plurality of optimal paths;
• receiving, by the first node, traffic for a first connection with the service;
• selecting, by the first node in response to determining the received traffic is for the service, a first next hop mapped to the service identifier of the plurality of next hops for the plurality of optimal paths;
• and
• forwarding, by the first node, the received traffic to the selected first next hop.

A system comprising:

• a path management hub including a first processing device and a first memory coupled to the first processing device, the first memory storing instructions which, when executed by the first processing device, cause the path management hub to:
• receive link performance metrics from each of a plurality of proxy server nodes that form a mesh network, wherein each of the plurality of proxy server nodes forms a portion of the mesh network via a link to each of two or more other nodes within the plurality of proxy server nodes, and wherein the link performance metrics represent a plurality of performance metric types;
• evaluate, in response to receiving the link performance metrics, a plurality of potential paths between respective first and second nodes within the plurality of proxy server nodes using the received link performance metrics to determine optimal paths for each of a plurality of metric types and/or a combination of metric types;
• determine a context representing one or more link performance metric types to be given preference for a service;
• map a service identifier for the service to a plurality of optimal paths between the first and second nodes using the one or more link performance metric types of the determined context;
• and
• transmit, to the first node:
• a respective next hop for each of the plurality of optimal paths, and
• a mapping between each respective next hop and the service identifier;
• and
• the first node including a second processing device and a second memory coupled to the second processing device, the second memory storing instructions which, when executed by the second processing device, cause the first node to:
• receive, from the path management hub, the service identifier mapped to a plurality of next hops for the plurality of optimal paths;
• receive traffic for a first connection with the service;
• select, in response to determining the received traffic is for the service, a first next hop mapped to the service identifier of the plurality of next hops for the plurality of optimal paths;
• and
• forward the received traffic to the selected first next hop.

A computer-implemented method, comprising:

• receiving, by a path management hub, link performance metrics from each of a plurality of proxy server nodes that form a mesh network, wherein each of the plurality of proxy server nodes forms a portion of the mesh network via a link to each of two or more other nodes within the plurality of proxy server nodes, and wherein the link performance metrics represent a plurality of performance metric types;
• evaluating, by the path management hub in response to receiving the link performance metrics, a plurality of potential paths between respective first and second nodes within the plurality of proxy server nodes using the received link performance metrics to determine optimal paths for each of a plurality of metric types and/or a combination of metric types;
• determining, by the path management hub, a context representing one or more link performance metric types to be given preference for a service;
• mapping, by the path management hub, a service identifier for the service to a plurality of optimal paths between the first and second nodes using the one or more link performance metric types of the determined context;
• and
• transmitting, from the path management hub to the first node:
• a respective next hop for each of the plurality of optimal paths, and
• a mapping between each respective next hop and the service identifier.