Tuning routing metrics to reduce maximum link utilization and/or provide failure resiliency

A method comprising:

• identifying a first plurality of metrics that are used by a routing protocol to select first routes for communication of messages among nodes of a network, each metric being associated with a corresponding link of a plurality of links of the network,
• determining a network performance measure based on a modification of the first routes by the routing protocol based on a failure condition of the network, and
• modifying one or more select metrics of the first plurality of metrics to provide a second plurality of metrics that provides an improvement of the network performance measure based on second routes selected by the routing protocol based on the second plurality of metrics and the failure condition,
• wherein the modifying of the one or more select metrics is substantially limited to modifications that cause the routing protocol to reduce a number of routes that include the links corresponding to the modified metrics.

A system comprising:

• a routing tool that is configured to determine routes on a network based on a set of metrics, each metric being associated with a corresponding link of a plurality of links of the network,
• a traffic engineering engine that is configured to:
• provide a first plurality of metrics to the routing tool to determine first routes for communication of messages among nodes of the network,
• determine a network performance measure based on the first routes, and
• modify one or more select metrics of the first plurality of metrics to provide a second plurality of metrics that provides an improvement of the network performance measure based on second routes determined by the routing tool based on the second plurality of metrics,
• wherein the traffic engine is configured to substantially limit modifications of the select metrics to modifications that cause the routing tool to reduce a number of routes that include the links corresponding to the select metrics.

A system comprising:

• a routing tool that is configured to determine routes on a network based on a set of metrics, each metric being associated with a corresponding link of a plurality of links of the network,
• a traffic engineering engine that is configured to:
• provide a first plurality of metrics to the routing tool to determine first routes for communication of messages among nodes of the network,
• identify a failure condition,
• determine a network performance measure based on a modification of the first routes by the routing tool based on a failure condition of the network, and
• modify one or more select metrics of the first plurality of metrics to provide a second plurality of metrics that provides an improvement of the network performance measure based on second routes selected by the routing tool based on the second plurality of metrics and the failure condition,
• wherein the traffic engine is configured to substantially limit modifications of the select metrics to modifications that cause the routing tool to reduce a number of routes that include the links corresponding to the select metrics.