Extending distributed application tracing for network optimizations

A system comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
• receiving a Layer-7 (L7) message of an L7 flow associated with a distributed application;
• determining that the L7 message includes tracing information;
• mapping the tracing information to a marking that is to be included in a Layer-3 (L3) or Layer-4 (L4) packet carrying the L7 message;
• and
• sending the L3 or L4 packet including the marking to an L3 or L4 network element, the L3 or L4 network element configured to utilize the marking to determine a network decision for the L3 or L4 packet.

One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors associated with an edge networking device to perform operations comprising:

• receiving a Layer-7 (L7) message of an L7 flow associated with a distributed application;
• determining that the L7 message includes tracing information;
• mapping the tracing information to a marking that is to be included in a Layer-3 (L3) or Layer-4 (L4) packet carrying the L7 message;
• and
• sending the L3 or L4 packet including the marking to an L3 or L4 network element, the L3 or L4 network element configured to utilize the marking to determine a network decision for the L3 or L4 packet.