Method and system for path building in a communications network

A method for establishing a path between a source node and a destination node through a network of routing devices, the method comprising:

• identifying ports of routing devices forming a path between the source node and the destination node, each routing device of the path having an identified source-side port and an identified destination-side port;
• identifying a virtual address for sending data from the source node to the destination node;
• and
• setting each of the identified source-side ports to route data sent to the identified virtual address through the identified destination-side port of its routing device.

A network manager for establishing a path between a source node and a destination node through a network of switches, comprising:

• a component that identifies switches forming a path between the source node and the destination node;
• a component that identifies a virtual address for sending data from the source node to the destination node through the identified switches;
• and
• a component that configures each of the identified switches to route data sent to the identified virtual address through the identified switches from the source node to the destination node.

A network manager for establishing a path between a source node and a destination node through a network of routing devices, comprising:

• means for identifying ports of routing devices forming a path between the source node and the destination node, each routing device of the path having an identified source-side port and an identified destination-side port;
• means for identifying a virtual address for sending data from the source node to the destination node;
• and
• setting each of the identified source-side ports to route data sent to the identified virtual address through the identified destination-side port of the routing device.