Optimizing connectivity in reconfigurable networks

A computer-implemented method, comprising:

• in response to determining that a data packet comprises a first type of traffic, determining to send the data packet from a first endpoint in the network to a second endpoint in the network using a direct path that interconnects the first endpoint and the second endpoint through a single switch, the network including a plurality of endpoints interconnected by a plurality of switches, and the network having a topology that includes, at any one time, a direct path between at least a portion of the plurality of endpoints in the network;
• in response to a current topology of the network including an indirect path but not the direct path between the first endpoint and the second endpoint, buffering, at the first endpoint, the data packet comprising the first type of traffic until the current topology of the network is reconfigured to include the direct path between the first endpoint and the second endpoint, the topology of the network being reconfigured by a reconfiguration of at least one of the plurality of switches;
• in response to the data packet being classified as a second type of traffic, determining to send the data packet using a currently available path included in the current topology of the network, the currently available path being the indirect path between the first endpoint and the second endpoint if the direct path between the first endpoint and the second endpoint is unavailable, the indirect path interconnecting the first endpoint and the second endpoint through more than one of the plurality of switches such that the data packet is routed through at least a third endpoint in the network before the data packet is delivered to the second endpoint;
• and
• sending, via the direct path or the currently available path, the data packet from the first endpoint to the second endpoint.

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions, which when executed by at least one processor, result in operations comprising:

• in response to determining that a data packet comprises a first type of traffic, determining to send the data packet from a first endpoint in the network to a second endpoint in the network using a direct path that interconnects the first endpoint and the second endpoint through a single switch, the network including a plurality of endpoints interconnected by a plurality of switches, and the network having a topology that includes, at any one time, a direct path between at least a portion of the plurality of endpoints in the network;
• in response to a current topology of the network including an indirect path but not the direct path between the first endpoint and the second endpoint, buffering, at the first endpoint, the data packet comprising the first type of traffic until the current topology of the network is reconfigured to include the direct path between the first endpoint and the second endpoint, the topology of the network being reconfigured by a reconfiguration of at least one of the plurality of switches;
• in response to the data packet being classified as a second type of traffic, determining to send the data packet using a currently available path included in the current topology of the network, the currently available path being the indirect path between the first endpoint and the second endpoint if the direct path between the first endpoint and the second endpoint is unavailable, the indirect path interconnecting the first endpoint and the second endpoint through more than one of the plurality of switches such that the data packet is routed through at least a third endpoint in the network before the data packet is delivered to the second endpoint;
• and
• sending, via the direct path or the currently available path, the data packet from the first endpoint to the second endpoint.