Multi-path transport design

An integrated circuit device comprising:

• processing logic;
• and
• a memory coupled to the processing logic and storing program code, which when executed by the processing logic, implements operations including:
• receiving a message from a user application to be transmitted to a network endpoint device associated with a destination address on a network;
• splitting the message into packets according to a transport service of a transport layer;
• assigning a set of the packets to a particular flowlet from a plurality of flowlets maintained by the transport layer and dynamically adjusting a number of flowlets in use when assigning the set of the packets to the particular flowlet, wherein each flowlet of the plurality of flowlets uses a different path over the network when transmitting the respective packets assigned to the flowlet, and wherein all the respective packets assigned to the flowlet use a same path over the network to reach the network endpoint device;
• modifying a field in headers of the set of the packets, wherein the field is used to route the set of the packets over the network, wherein modification of the field causes each of the set of the packets to be routed according to a path over the network associated with the particular flowlet;
• and
• sending the set of the packets over the network according to the transport service.

A computing device comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory coupled to the processor and storing a user application;
• and
• a network adapter coupled to the processor and having one or more ports in communication with a network, wherein the network adapter is operable to:
• receive data from the user application to be transmitted to a network endpoint device associated with a destination address on the network;
• split the data into packets according to a transport service of a transport layer;
• assign a set of the packets to a particular flowlet from a plurality of flowlets maintained by the transport layer and dynamically adjust a number of flowlets in use when assigning the set of the packets to the particular flowlet, wherein each flowlet of the plurality of flowlets uses a different path over the network when transmitting the respective packets assigned to the flowlet, and wherein all the respective packets assigned to the flowlet use a same path over the network to reach the network endpoint device;
• modify a field in headers of the set of the packets, wherein the field is used to route the set of the packets over the network, wherein modification of the field causes each of the set of the packets to be routed according to a path over the network associated with the particular flowlet;
• and
• send the set of the packets over the network according to the transport service.