Method and apparatus for determining delays of links between switches

A computer readable medium storing a software program, that, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform a method comprising:

• determining a plurality of intra-switch router delays by determining an intra-switch router delay between a pair of routers for each pair of routers in a plurality of pairs of routers, wherein each of said pairs of routers is connected to one of:
• a first switch and a second switch;
• determining a plurality of inter-switch router delays by determining an inter-switch router delay between a pair of routers for each pair of routers in a plurality of pairs of routers, wherein each of said pairs of routers comprises a first router and a second router, said first router connected to said first switch and said second router connection to said second switch;
• and
• computing said delay of said link between said first switch and said second switch using said plurality of intra-switch router delays and said plurality of inter-switch router delays.

A system for determining a delay of a link between a first switch and a second switch, comprising:

• a plurality of switches, said plurality of switches comprising said first switch and said second switch in communication using said link;
• a plurality of networks, each of said networks comprising at least one router in communication with one of:
• said first switch and said second switch;
• a plurality of software probes associated with said respective plurality of networks, said plurality of software probes operable for:
• determining a plurality of intra-switch router delays by determining an intra-switch router delay between a pair of routers for each pair of routers in a plurality of pairs of routers, wherein each of said pairs of routers is connected to one of:
• said first switch and said second switch;
• determining a plurality of inter-switch router delays by determining an inter-switch router delay between a pair of routers for each pair of routers in a plurality of pairs of routers, wherein each of said pairs of routers comprises a first router and a second router, said first router connected to said first switch and said second router connection to said second switch;
• and
• a system in communication with at least one switch in said plurality of switches, said system operable for computing said delay using said plurality of intra-switch router delays and said plurality of inter-switch router delays.