Intelligent wide area network (iwan)

An apparatus, comprising:

• one or more network interfaces to communicate with a communication network;
• a processor coupled to the one or more network interfaces and configured to execute a process;
• and
• a memory configured to store the process executable by the processor, the process when executed operable to:
• maintain one or more tunnel-based overlays for the communication network, wherein the communication network comprises two or more physical provider networks;
• maintain a mapping between a particular application and the one or more overlays for the communication network;
• adjust the mapping between the particular application and the one or more overlays for the communication network;
• and
• cause one or more routers in the communication network to route traffic for the particular application according to the adjusted mapping between the application and the one or more overlays for the communication network.

A tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media having software encoded thereon, the software when executed by a processor on a device in a communication network operable to:

• maintain one or more tunnel-based overlays for the communication network, wherein the communication network comprises two or more physical provider networks;
• maintain a mapping between a particular application and the one or more overlays for the communication network;
• adjust the mapping between the particular application and the one or more overlays for the communication network;
• and
• cause one or more routers in the communication network to route traffic for the particular application according to the adjusted mapping between the application and the one or more overlays for the communication network.