Automated discovery of network devices supporting particular transport layer protocols

An apparatus, comprising:

• a plurality of interfaces for sending and receiving packets;
• and one or more control processors and memory;
• wherein the apparatus is configured for performing operations including:
• receiving a packet being sent from a first host to a second host in a network, said packet corresponding to a request that a session be established using a first transport layer protocol or belonging to an already established session using the first transport layer protocol;
• in response to said received packet:
• (a) determining that a second networked device that supports transportation of packets using a second transport layer protocol is on a path through the network from the apparatus towards the second host;
• and (b) establishing a second layer transport session using the second transport protocol between the apparatus and the second networked device;
• and
• communicating a plurality of packets between the apparatus and the second networked device using said established second layer transport session;
• wherein said operations comprise:
• registering the support of the second transport protocol of the apparatus with a configuration server;
• and receiving information from the configuration server that second network device supports the second transport protocol;
• and
• wherein said determining that the second networked device supports transportation of packets using the second transport layer protocol is on a path through the network from the apparatus towards the second host includes referencing said received information from the configuration server that second network device supports the second transport protocol.

A method, comprising:

• in response to packet traffic being passed through a packet switching device towards a destination using a first transport layer protocol:
• the packet switching device forwarding said packet traffic to the destination, and subsequently determining that a second packet switching device supports a second transport layer protocol, different from the first transport layer protocol, that can be used to carry future packet traffic towards the destination exists along a path towards the destination;
• in response to said determination regarding the second packet switching device, establishing a session using the second transport layer protocol between the packet switching device and the second packet switching device;
• and
• after said establishment of said second transport layer protocol session, the packet switching device forwarding a plurality of packets to the second packet switching device over said second transport layer protocol session;
• wherein said determination by the packet switching device that the second packet switching device exists along a path towards the destination includes:
• (a) sending a probe packet from the packet switching device along a path towards the destination attempting to identify a networked device supporting the second layer transport protocol, with the probe packet being received by the second packet switching device;
• and (b) receiving a response from the second packet switching device representing its support of the second layer transport protocol.

A method, comprising:

• receiving information by a packet switching device from a configuration server that a second packet switching device supports a second transport protocol;
• in response to packet traffic being passed through the packet switching device towards a destination using a first transport layer protocol:
• the packet switching device forwarding said packet traffic to the destination, and subsequently determining that the second packet switching device supports the second transport layer protocol, different from the first transport layer protocol, that can be used to carry future packet traffic towards the destination exists along a path towards the destination;
• wherein said determination by the packet switching device that the second packet switching device exists along a path towards the destination includes referencing said received information from the configuration server that second packet switching device supports the second transport protocol;
• in response to said determination regarding the second packet switching device, establishing a session using the second transport layer protocol between the packet switching device and the second packet switching device;
• and
• after said establishment of said second transport layer protocol session, the packet switching device forwarding a plurality of packets to the second packet switching device over said second transport layer protocol session.