Directing network traffic using local routing decisions with a global overview

A method, comprising:

• generating recommendations on candidate packet paths to use between groups of network devices using a global network manager that analyzes global topology and global demand of a network, evaluates adjacent groups of the network devices, and analyzes traffic in the network formed by the groups of network devices, wherein the generating of the recommendations occurs at a first frequency;
• and
• programming the network devices by updating a Forwarding Information Base (FIB) in each of the groups using local network managers, wherein the local network managers program the network devices based upon the recommendations on the candidate packet paths generated by the global network manager and received by the local network managers from the global network manager and metrics associated with a respective group of network devices controlled by the local network managers, wherein the programming of the network devices by the local network managers occurs at a second frequency, greater than the first frequency.

A system, comprising:

• a global network manager that analyzes global topology and global demand of a network, evaluates adjacent local groups of network devices in the network, analyzes traffic patterns in the network and provides recommended paths through the network, wherein the global network manager is configured to provide the recommended paths at a first frequency;
• and
• a plurality of local network managers coupled to the global network manager that receive the recommended paths through the network provided by the global network manager, determine a percentage of network traffic to transmit to a next hop in the recommended paths and program local network devices based upon the determination, wherein the plurality of local network managers determine the percentage of network traffic to transmit at a second frequency, faster than the first frequency.