Metric-based multi-hop path selection

A method comprising:

• receiving, by a first router of a plurality of routers of a network connecting a client device to a service instance, a plurality of network performance metrics for a plurality of links interconnecting the plurality of routers, wherein the plurality of links form a plurality of multi-hop paths from the first router through the plurality of routers to the service instance;
• determining, by the first router and based on the plurality of network performance metrics, an end-to-end performance of each of the plurality of multi-hop paths;
• selecting, by the first router and based on the end-to-end performance of each of the plurality of multi-hop paths and one or more performance requirements for a service associated with a session between the client device and the service instance, a multi-hop path over which to forward traffic associated with the session;
• and
• forwarding, by the first router, the traffic associated with the session to the service instance along the selected multi-hop path.

A first router of a plurality of routers of a network connecting a client device to a service instance, the first router comprising:

• processing circuitry;
• and
• a memory operably coupled to the processing circuitry and comprising instructions configured to cause the processing circuitry to:
• receive a plurality of network performance metrics for a plurality of links interconnecting the plurality of routers, wherein the plurality of links form a plurality of multi-hop paths from the first router through the plurality of routers to the service instance;
• determine, based on the plurality of network performance metrics, an end-to-end performance of each of the plurality of multi-hop paths;
• select, based on the end-to-end performance of each of the plurality of multi-hop paths and one or more performance requirements for a service associated with a session between the client device and the service instance, a multi-hop path over which to forward traffic associated with the session;
• and
• forward the traffic associated with the session to the service instance along the selected multi-hop path.