Enhanced flexible-algorithm definition

A method comprising:

• receiving, by a network device of a plurality of network devices enabled for a flexible-algorithm to compute one or more constraint based paths, a packet including a segment identifier (SID) offset for the flexible-algorithm, wherein the SID offset is an offset value associated with a particular constraint-based path computed from the flexible-algorithm;
• determining, by the network device, whether the network device is configured to steer traffic along the particular constraint-based path computed from the flexible-algorithm;
• and
• deriving, by the network device and by using the SID offset to offset a default node segment identifier of the network device for a default segment route, a node segment identifier that enables the network device to steer traffic along the particular constraint-based path computed from the flexible-algorithm.

A network device of a plurality of network devices enabled for flexible-algorithm to compute one or more constraint based paths, comprising:

• a memory;
• one or more programmable processors operably coupled to the memory, wherein the one or more programmable processors are configured to:
• generate a segment identifier (SID) offset, wherein the SID offset is a single offset value associated with a particular constraint-based path computed from the flexible-algorithm;
• and
• send, to each of the plurality of network devices, a respective packet including the SID offset to enable the the plurality of network devices to each derive a respective node segment identifier, by using the SID offset to offset a default node segment identifier of a given network device of the plurality of network devices for a default segment route, for the given network device to steer traffic along the particular constraint-based path computed from the flexible-algorithm.