Symmetric routing enforcement

A system for assisting in ensuring symmetric routing between a first host and a second host, the first host being a part of a first autonomous system (AS), the second host being a part of a second AS, the system comprising:

• at least one memory configured to store computer executable instructions;
• and
• at least one processor coupled to the at least one memory and configured, when executing the instructions, to:
• detect that a first routing message was received at an edge router of the first AS from an edge router of the second AS, the first routing message comprising:
• an identification of the second host as a source of a forward route, and
• an identification of the first host as a destination of the forward route;
• determine that the first routing message further comprises an indication to implement symmetric routing between the first host and the second host;
• after the first routing message is received, generate a second routing message comprising:
• an identification of the first host as a source of a return route,
• an identification of the second host as a destination of the return route, and
• an indication that one or more routers within the first AS are to send data from the first host to the second host via the edge router of the first AS that received the first routing message;
• and
• configure the one or more routers within the first AS to implement symmetric routing by propagating the second routing message to the one or more routers within the first AS.

One or more non-transitory computer readable storage media encoded with software comprising computer executable instructions and when the software is executed operable to:

• detect that a first routing message was received at an edge router of a first Autonomous System (AS) from an edge router of a second AS, the first routing message comprising:
• an identification of a second host as a source of a forward route, and
• an identification of a first host as a destination of the forward route;
• determine that the first routing message further comprises an indication to implement symmetric routing between the first host and the second host;
• after the first routing message is received, generate a second routing message comprising:
• an identification of the first host as a source of a return route,
• an identification of the second host as a destination of the return route, and
• an indication that one or more routers within the first AS are to send data from the first host to the second host via the edge router of the first AS that received the first routing message;
• and
• configure the one or more routers within the first AS to implement symmetric routing by propagating the second routing message to the one or more routers within the first AS.