Optimizing return traffic paths using network address translation

A system comprising:

• a first router operable to provide connectivity for a source network to a first provider network and a second provider network, the first router comprising first logic encoded in first one or more tangible media for execution and when executed operable to:
• establish a Stateful NAT (SNAT) protocol session to second logic that is operable to perform network address translation for ingress traffic sent to nodes in a destination network;
• receive first data from a source node in the source network;
• replace a source address in a source address field in the first data with a first address from a first address pool associated with a first connection that communicatively connects the source network to the first provider network;
• determine that return traffic on the first connection needs to be switched over to a second connection, wherein a second address pool is associated with the second connection and the second connection communicatively connects the source network with the second provider network;
• generate a mapping that associates the first address with a second address from the second address pool;
• send the mapping to the second logic over the SNAT protocol session;
• based on the mapping, replace the first address in the source address field in the first data with the second address;
• and
• send the first data over the second connection to a destination node in the destination network;
• and
• a second router operable to provide connectivity for the destination network, the second router comprising the second logic encoded in second one or more tangible media for execution and when executed operable to:
• receive the mapping from the first logic;
• receive the first data;
• based on the mapping, replace the second address in the source address field in the first data with the first address;
• and
• send the first data to the destination node.

An apparatus comprising:

• means for receiving outbound data from a source node in a source network;
• means for replacing a source address in a source address field in the outbound data with a first address from a first address pool associated with a first connection;
• means for determining that return traffic on the first connection needs to be switched over to a second connection, wherein a second address pool is associated with the second connection;
• means for generating a mapping that associates the first address with a second address from the second address pool;
• means for replacing, based on the mapping, the first address in the source address field in the outbound data with the second address;
• and
• means for sending the outbound data to the destination node over the second connection.

A non-transitory computer-readable volatile or non-volatile medium storing one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform steps comprising:

• receiving outbound data from a source node in a source network;
• replacing a source address in a source address field in the outbound data with a first address from a first address pool associated with a first connection;
• determining that return traffic on the first connection needs to be switched over to a second connection, wherein a second address pool is associated with the second connection;
• generating a mapping that associates the first address with a second address from the second address pool;
• based on the mapping, replacing the first address in the source address field in the outbound data with the second address;
• and
• sending the outbound data to the destination node over the second connection.