Scoped identifier space routing methods, systems, and computer program products

• US 10,389,624 B1
• Filed: 08/10/2018
• Issued: 08/20/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MORRIS ROUTING TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
• Original Assignee: Sitting Man LLC
• Inventors: Morris, Robert Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Jimmy H
• Application Number:
  US16/101,386
• Time in Patent Office: 375 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/02 Topology update or discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/126 minimising geographical or physical path length
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/22 Alternate routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/34 Source routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/50 using label swapping, e.g. multi-protocol label switch [MPLS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/106 across networks, e.g. mapping telephone numbers to data network addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/38 adapting due to varying relative distances between nodes

Abstract

In various embodiments, a network controller is configured to: identify, for each of a plurality of nodes in a Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) network, location information that identifies a location of a corresponding one of the plurality of nodes in a topology of the MPLS network accessible to the controller; receive, for each of the plurality of nodes in the MPLS network, identifier information that identifies a corresponding identifier in a corresponding identifier space which is specific to the corresponding one of the plurality of nodes and which is based on a metric space having an origin specific to the corresponding one of the plurality of nodes, where at least a portion of the plurality of nodes are in a span of a first portion of the MPLS network such that the corresponding identifier of each of the at least portion of nodes is unique in the span, and the corresponding identifier space of each of the at least portion of nodes is configured to have an identical origin, resulting in a scoped identifier space that includes globally unique identifiers for each of the at least portion of nodes in the span; based on at least a portion of the location information, determine, for a pair of the plurality of nodes in the MPLS network, at least one network path for transmitting data from a first node of the pair toward a second node of the pair; store, based on the identifier information, network path information that identifies the at least one network path; receive lookup information that identifies the first node and the second node of the pair; and look up the network path information, utilizing the lookup information.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a network controller configured to be positioned in a Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) network, the network controller including at least one non-transitory memory configured to store instructions, and one or more processors in communication with the at least one non-transitory memory, wherein the one or more processors is configured to execute the instructions to cause the network controller to;

identify, for each of a plurality of nodes in the MPLS network, location information that identifies a location of a corresponding one of the plurality of nodes in a topology of the MPLS network accessible to the controller;

receive, for each of the plurality of nodes in the MPLS network, identifier information that identifies a corresponding identifier in a corresponding identifier space which is specific to the corresponding one of the plurality of nodes and which is based on a metric space having an origin specific to the corresponding one of the plurality of nodes, where at least a portion of the plurality of nodes are in a span of a first portion of the MPLS network such that the corresponding identifier of each of the at least portion of nodes is unique in the span, and the corresponding identifier space of each of the at least portion of nodes is configured to have an identical origin, resulting in a scoped identifier space that includes globally unique identifiers for each of the at least portion of nodes in the span;

based on at least a portion of the location information, determine, for a pair of the plurality of nodes in the MPLS network, at least one network path for transmitting data from a first node of the pair toward a second node of the pair;

store, based on the identifier information, network path information that identifies the at least one network path;

receive lookup information that identifies the first node and the second node of the pair;

look up the network path information, utilizing the lookup information; and

provide, to the first node of the pair, the network path information for use, by the first node of the pair, in a data transmission via the at least one network path from the first node of the pair toward the second node of the pair.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that a network path is selected from the at least one network path for use in the data transmission from the first node of the pair toward the second node of the pair.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the selected network path is selected by selecting an ordered set of identifiers including a particular identifier, in an identifier space specific to the first node of the pair, that identifies, for the first node of the pair, a next node in the selected network path toward the second node of the pair.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the selected network path includes a multi-hop path that communicatively couples the first node of the pair and the next node.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the next node is the second node of the pair.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the first node of the pair is in the span.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the selected network path is selected by selecting an ordered set of identifiers.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the ordered set of identifiers includes a particular identifier, in the scoped identifier space, that globally identifies, in the span, a next node in the span and in the selected network path towards the second node of the pair.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the apparatus is configured such that a second portion of the MPLS network is not included in the span, and a scope-specific identifier space specific to at least one node in the span includes at least one identifier in at least one identifier space specific to the at least one node, where the at least one identifier identifies, for the at least one node, at least one node in the second portion.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the second node of the pair is not in the span, and the ordered set of identifiers includes a particular identifier, in a scope-specific address space specific to the at least one node in the span, that identifies, for the least one node which includes the first node of the pair, a next node in the selected network path towards the second node of the pair.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the apparatus is configured to receive additional location information that reflects a change to the topology.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is configured such that, based on the additional location information, one or more network paths is at least one of:

modified in, added to, or removed from, the at least one network path, before the at least one network path information is determined.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the apparatus is configured such that, in the event that the one or more network paths is modified, at least one identifier is at least one of:

added to or removed from the ordered set of identifiers for at least one of;

adding at least one node to or removing at least one node from the at least one network path.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the apparatus is configured such that, in the event that the one or more network paths is modified, the selected network path is changed from at least one of:

a single-hop path to a multi-hop path, or a multi-hop path to a single-hop path.

15. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the network path information is stored in association with a representation of the pair, based on at least one of:

a first policy or a first metric.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the apparatus is configured such that, in response to a detection of a change to at least one of the first policy or the first metric, one or more network paths is at least one of:

added to, removed from, or modified in the at least one network path.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the apparatus is configured such that, in the event that the one or more network paths is modified, at least one identifier is at least one of:

added to or removed from the ordered set of identifiers for at least one of;

adding at least one node to or removing at least one node from the at least on network path.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the apparatus is configured such that, in the event that the one or more network paths is modified, the selected network path is changed from at least one of:

a single-hop path to a multi-hop path, or a multi-hop path to a single-hop path.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the apparatus is configured such that:

additional lookup information is received that identifies the first node of the pair and the second node of the pair in addition to at least one of;

a second policy or a second metric;

additional network path information is looked up, utilizing the additional lookup information, wherein the additional network path information identifies at least one additional network path; and

the additional network path information is provided, to the first node of the pair, for use, by the first node of the pair, in a data transmission via the at least one additional network path, from the first node of the pair toward the second node of the pair.

39. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the apparatus is configured such that a first identifier space specific to the first node of the pair is based on a same type of metric space as each other identifier space for each other respective node in the plurality of nodes in the MPLS network.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the same type of metric space is a one-dimensional metric space having different origins for different nodes.

41. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of:

the at least the portion of the plurality of nodes, including the first node, includes only a subset of the plurality of nodes;

the at least the portion of the plurality of nodes, including the first node, includes all of the plurality of nodes;

the span of the first portion of the MPLS network includes only a subset of the plurality of nodes that reside in the first portion of the MPLS network;

the globally unique identifiers for each of the at least portion of nodes in the span are not unique outside the span;

the globally unique identifiers for each of the at least portion of nodes in the span are also unique outside the span;

the identical origin includes an identical base value;

the identical origin includes an identical value to which an offset is capable of being applied;

the identical origin includes an identical value to which a shift is capable of being applied;

the identical origin includes an identical index;

the network path information is provided to the first node of the pair by transmitting the network path information to the first node of the pair;

the first node of the pair is a first border node of the MPLS network;

the first node of the pair receives data to transmit in the data transmission from a source node that is not included in the MPLS network;

the first node of the pair receives data to transmit in the data transmission from a first application operating at least partially in the first node of the pair;

data in the data transmission is transmitted to an application in the second node of the pair which is in the MPLS network;

data in the data transmission is transmitted, via the second node of the pair, from the first node of the pair to an application in a destination node which is not in the MPLS network;

the location information identifies the location of the corresponding one of the plurality of nodes in the topology of the MPLS network, by permitting such location to be inferred from the location information;

the location information identifies the location of the corresponding one of the plurality of nodes in the topology of the MPLS network, by indicating that the corresponding one of the plurality of nodes in the topology of the MPLS network is a neighbor node;

the location information identifies the location of the corresponding one of the plurality of nodes in the topology of the MPLS network, by identifying neighbor nodes;

the location information directly identifies the location of the corresponding one of the plurality of nodes in the topology of the MPLS network;

the location information indirectly identifies the location of the corresponding one of the plurality of nodes in the topology of the MPLS network;

the network path information is stored, based on the identifier information, by storing the identifier information, at least in part;

the network path information is stored, based on the identifier information, by storing information that is based on the identifier information;

the corresponding identifier space of each of the at least portion of nodes is configured to have the identical origin despite being specific to the corresponding one of the plurality of nodes;

the corresponding identifier space of each of the at least portion of nodes is configured to have the identical origin while being specific to the corresponding one of the plurality of nodes, for realizing at least one virtual identifier space;

the network path information is stored, based on the identifier information, by storing the network information in association with the identifier information;

the network path information is stored, based on the identifier information, by storing the network information in association with at least one of a first node identifier or a second node identifier identified by the identifier information;

the network path information is looked up by using at least one of a first node identifier or a second node identifier of the lookup information, to look up the network path information;

the network path information is looked up by comparing at least one of a first node identifier or a second node identifier of the lookup information, with the identifier information;

the network path information is looked up by matching at least one of a first node identifier or a second node identifier of the lookup information, with one or more associated identifiers of the identifier information;

the network path information is looked up by comparing at least one of a first node identifier or a second node identifier of the lookup information, with the identifier information on which the storage of the network path information is based;

the corresponding identifier space is based on the metric space by being implemented utilizing the metric space;

the corresponding identifier space is based on the metric space by being implemented as the metric space;

the metric space includes an Euclidian space;

the second node of the pair is a second border node of the MPLS network;

or

the first node of the pair is included in the apparatus and the one or more processors, to provide the network path information to the first node of the pair.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer instructions, that when executed by one or more processors of a network controller configured to be positioned in a Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) network, cause the one or more processors to:

identify, for each of a plurality of nodes in the MPLS network, location information that identifies a location of a corresponding one of the plurality of nodes in a topology of the MPLS network accessible to the controller;

receive, for each of the plurality of nodes in the MPLS network, identifier information that identifies a corresponding identifier in a corresponding identifier space which is specific to the corresponding one of the plurality of nodes, and which is based on a metric space having an origin specific to the corresponding one of the plurality of nodes, where at least a portion of the plurality of nodes are in a span of a first portion of the MPLS network such that the corresponding identifier of each of the at least portion of nodes is unique in the span, and the corresponding identifier space of each of the at least portion of nodes is configured to have an identical origin, resulting in a scoped identifier space that includes globally unique identifiers for each of the at least portion of nodes in the span;

based on at least a portion of the location information, determine, for a pair of the plurality of nodes in the MPLS network, at least one network path for transmitting data from a first node of the pair toward a second node of the pair;

store, based on the identifier information, network path information that identifies the at least one network path;

receive lookup information that identifies the first node and the second node of the pair;

look up the network path information, utilizing the lookup information; and

provide, to the first node of the pair, the network path information for use, by the first node of the pair, in a data transmission via the at least one network path from the first node of the pair toward the second node of the pair.

21. A network controller-implemented method, comprising:

identifying, for each of a plurality of nodes in a Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) network, location information that identifies a location of a corresponding one of the plurality of nodes in a topology of the MPLS network accessible to the controller;

receiving, for each of the plurality of nodes in the MPLS network, identifier information that identifies a corresponding identifier in a corresponding identifier space which is specific to the corresponding one of the plurality of nodes, and which is based on a metric space having an origin specific to the corresponding one of the plurality of nodes, where at least a portion of the plurality of nodes are in a span of a first portion of the MPLS network such that the corresponding identifier of each of the at least portion of nodes is unique in the span, and the corresponding identifier space of each of the at least portion of nodes is configured to have an identical origin, resulting in a scoped identifier space that includes globally unique identifiers for each of the at least portion of nodes in the span;

based on at least a portion of the location information, determining, for a pair of the plurality of nodes in the MPLS network, at least one network path for transmitting data from a first node of the pair toward a second node of the pair;

storing, based on the identifier information, network path information that identifies the at least one network path;

receiving lookup information that identifies the first node and the second node of the pair;

looking up the network path information, utilizing the lookup information; and

providing, to the first node of the pair, the network path information for use, by the first node of the pair, in a data transmission via the at least one network path from the first node of the pair toward the second node of the pair.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein a network path is selected from the at least one network path for use in the data transmission from the first node of the pair toward the second node of the pair.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the selected network path is selected by selecting an ordered set of identifiers including a particular identifier, in an identifier space specific to the first node of the pair, that identifies, for the first node of the pair, a next node in the selected network path toward the second node of the pair.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the selected network path includes a multi-hop path that communicatively couples the first node of the pair and the next node.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the next node is the second node of the pair.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the selected network path is selected by selecting an ordered set of identifiers.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the ordered set of identifiers includes a particular identifier, in the scoped identifier space, that globally identifies, in the span, a next node in the span and in the selected network path towards the second node of the pair.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein a second portion of the MPLS network is not included in the span, and a scope-specific identifier space specific to at least one node in the span includes at least one identifier in at least one identifier space specific to the at least one node, where the at least one identifier identifies, for the at least one node, at least one node in the second portion.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the second node of the pair is not in the span, the first node of the pair is in the span, and the ordered set of identifiers includes a particular identifier, in a scope-specific address space specific to the at least one node in the span, that identifies, for the least one node which includes the first node of the pair, a next node in the selected network path towards the second node of the pair.

30. The method of claim 26, and further comprising:

receiving additional location information that reflects a change to the topology.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein, based on the additional location information, one or more network paths is at least one of:

modified in, added to, or removed from, the at least one network path, before the at least one network path information is determined.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein, in response to the one or more network paths being modified, at least one identifier is at least one of:

added to or removed from the ordered set of identifiers for at least one of;

adding at least one node to or removing at least one node from the at least one network path.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein, in response to the one or more network paths being modified, the selected network path is changed from at least one of:

a single-hop path to a multi-hop path, or a multi-hop path to a single-hop path.

34. The method of claim 26, wherein the network path information is stored in association with a representation of the pair, based on at least one of:

a first policy or a first metric.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein, in response to a detection of a change to at least one of the first policy or the first metric, one or more network paths is at least one of:

added to, removed from, or modified in the at least one network path.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein, in response to the one or more network paths being modified, at least one identifier is at least one of:

added to or removed from the ordered set of identifiers for at least one of;

adding at least one node to or removing at least one node from the at least on network path.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein, in response to the one or more network paths being modified, the selected network path is changed from at least one of:

a single-hop path to a multi-hop path, or a multi-hop path to a single-hop path.

38. The method of claim 34, wherein:

additional lookup information is received that identifies the first node of the pair and the second node of the pair in addition to at least one of;

a second policy or a second metric;

additional network path information is looked up, utilizing the additional lookup information, wherein the additional network path information identifies at least one additional network path; and

the additional network path information is provided, to the first node of the pair, for use, by the first node of the pair, in a data transmission via the at least one additional network path, from the first node of the pair toward the second node of the pair.

42. A system, comprising:

receiver means for receiving, for each of a plurality of nodes in a Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) network, location information that identifies a location of a corresponding one of the plurality of nodes in a topology of the MPLS network; and

for receiving, for each of the plurality of nodes in the MPLS network, identifier information that identifies a corresponding identifier in a corresponding identifier space which is specific to the corresponding one of the plurality of nodes, and which is based on a metric space having an origin specific to the corresponding one of the plurality of nodes, where at least a portion of the plurality of nodes are in a span of a first portion of the MPLS network such that the corresponding identifier of each of the at least portion of nodes is unique in the span, and the corresponding identifier space of each of the at least portion of nodes is configured to have an identical origin, resulting in a scoped identifier space that includes globally unique identifiers for each of the at least portion of nodes in the span;

processor means for;

based on at least a portion of the location information, determining, for a pair of the plurality of nodes in the MPLS network, at least one network path for transmitting data from a first node of the pair toward a second node of the pair;

causing storage, based on the identifier information, of network path information that identifies the at least one network path;

receiving lookup information that identifies the first node and the second node of the pair;

looking up the network path information, utilizing the lookup information; and

transmitter means for providing, to the first node of the pair, the network path information for use, by the first node of the pair, in a data transmission via the at least one network path from the first node of the pair toward the second node of the pair.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the receiver means includes a receiver interface, the processor means includes at least one processor, and the transmitter means includes a transmitter interface.

44. A method, comprising:

configuring at least a portion of a plurality of instructions; and

causing storage of the instructions on at least one non-transitory memory, where the instructions, in response to being executed by one or more processors of a controller, cause the controller to;

identify, for each of a plurality of nodes in a Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) network, location information that identifies a location of a corresponding one of the plurality of nodes in a topology of the MPLS network accessible to the controller;

receive, for each of the plurality of nodes in the MPLS network, identifier information that identifies a corresponding identifier in a corresponding identifier space which is specific to the corresponding one of the plurality of nodes, and which is based on a metric space having an origin specific to the corresponding one of the plurality of nodes, where at least a portion of the plurality of nodes are in a span of a first portion of the MPLS network such that the corresponding identifier of each of the at least portion of nodes is unique in the span, and the corresponding identifier space of each of the at least portion of nodes is configured to have an identical origin, resulting in a scoped identifier space that includes globally unique identifiers for each of the at least portion of nodes in the span;

based on at least a portion of the location information, determine, for a pair of the plurality of nodes in the MPLS network, at least one network path for transmitting data from a first node of the pair toward a second node of the pair;

store, based on the identifier information, network path information that identifies the at least one network path;

receive lookup information that identifies the first node and the second node of the pair;

look up the network path information, utilizing the lookup information; and

provide, to the first node of the pair, the network path information for use, by the first node of the pair, in a data transmission via the at least one network path from the first node of the pair toward the second node of the pair.

45. The method of claim 44, and comprising:

further configuring the at least portion of the plurality of instructions, where the instructions, in response to being executed by the one or more processors of the controller, cause the controller to operate such that;

a network path is selected from the at least one network path for use in the data transmission from the first node of the pair toward the second node of the pair.

46. The method of claim 45, and comprising:

further configuring the at least portion of the plurality of instructions, where the instructions, in response to being executed by the one or more processors of the controller, cause the controller to operate such that;

the selected network path is selected by selecting an ordered set of identifiers including a particular identifier, in an identifier space specific to the first node of the pair, that identifies, for the first node of the pair, a next node in the selected network path toward the second node of the pair.

47. The method of claim 46, and comprising:

further configuring the at least portion of the plurality of instructions, where the instructions, in response to being executed by the one or more processors of the controller, cause the controller to operate such that;

the selected network path includes a multi-hop path that communicatively couples the first node of the pair and the next node.

48. The method of claim 46, and comprising:

further configuring the at least portion of the plurality of instructions, where the instructions, in response to being executed by the one or more processors of the controller, cause the controller to operate such that;

the next node is the second node of the pair.

49. The method of claim 45, and comprising:

further configuring the at least portion of the plurality of instructions, where the instructions, in response to being executed by the one or more processors of the controller, cause the controller to operate such that;

the selected network path is selected by selecting an ordered set of identifiers.

50. The method of claim 49, and comprising:

further configuring the at least portion of the plurality of instructions, where the instructions, in response to being executed by the one or more processors of the controller, cause the controller to operate such that;

the ordered set of identifiers includes a particular identifier, in the scoped identifier space, that globally identifies, in the span, a next node in the span and in the selected network path towards the second node of the pair.

51. The method of claim 49, and comprising:

further configuring the at least portion of the plurality of instructions, where the instructions, in response to being executed by the one or more processors of the controller, cause the controller to operate wherein;

a second portion of the MPLS network is not included in the span, and a scope-specific identifier space specific to at least one node in the span includes at least one identifier in at least one identifier space specific to the at least one node, where the at least one identifier identifies, for the at least one node, at least one node in the second portion.

52. The method of claim 51, and comprising:

further configuring the at least portion of the plurality of instructions, where the instructions, in response to being executed by the one or more processors of the controller, cause the controller to operate wherein;

the second node of the pair is not in the span, the first node of the pair is in the span, and the ordered set of identifiers includes a particular identifier, in a scope-specific address space specific to the at least one node in the span, that identifies, for the least one node which includes the first node of the pair, a next node in the selected network path towards the second node of the pair.

53. The method of claim 49, and comprising:

further configuring the at least portion of the plurality of instructions, where the instructions, in response to being executed by the one or more processors of the controller, cause the controller to receive additional location information that reflects a change to the topology.

54. The method of claim 53, and comprising:

further configuring the at least portion of the plurality of instructions, where the instructions, in response to being executed by the one or more processors of the controller, cause the controller to operate such that, based on the additional location information, one or more network paths is at least one of;

modified in, added to, or removed from, the at least one network path, before the at least one network path information is determined.

55. The method of claim 54, and comprising:

further configuring the at least portion of the plurality of instructions, where the instructions, in response to being executed by the one or more processors of the controller, cause the controller to operate such that, in response to the one or more network paths being modified, at least one identifier is at least one of;

added to or removed from the ordered set of identifiers for at least one of;

adding at least one node to or removing at least one node from the at least one network path.

56. The method of claim 54, and comprising:

further configuring the at least portion of the plurality of instructions, where the instructions, in response to being executed by the one or more processors of the controller, cause the controller to operate such that, in response to the one or more network paths being modified, the selected network path is changed from at least one of;

a single-hop path to a multi-hop path, or a multi-hop path to a single-hop path.

57. The method of claim 49, and comprising:

further configuring the at least portion of the plurality of instructions, where the instructions, in response to being executed by the one or more processors of the controller, cause the controller to operate such that;

the network path information is stored in association with a representation of the pair, based on at least one of;

a first policy or a first metric.

58. The method of claim 57, and comprising:

further configuring the at least portion of the plurality of instructions, where the instructions, in response to being executed by the one or more processors of the controller, cause the controller to operate such that, in response to a detection of a change to at least one of the first policy or the first metric, one or more network paths is at least one of;

added to, removed from, or modified in the at least one network path.

59. The method of claim 58, and comprising:

further configuring the at least portion of the plurality of instructions, where the instructions, in response to being executed by the one or more processors of the controller, cause the controller to operate such that, in response to the one or more network paths being modified, at least one identifier is at least one of;

added to or removed from the ordered set of identifiers for at least one of;

adding at least one node to or removing at least one node from the at least on network path.

60. The method of claim 58, and comprising:

further configuring the at least portion of the plurality of instructions, where the instructions, in response to being executed by the one or more processors of the controller, cause the controller to operate such that, in response to the one or more network paths being modified, the selected network path is changed from at least one of;

a single-hop path to a multi-hop path, or a multi-hop path to a single-hop path.

61. The method of claim 57, and comprising:

further configuring the at least portion of the plurality of instructions, where the instructions, in response to being executed by the one or more processors of the controller, cause the controller to operate such that;

additional lookup information is received that identifies the first node of the pair and the second node of the pair in addition to at least one of;

a second policy or a second metric;

additional network path information is looked up, utilizing the additional lookup information, wherein the additional network path information identifies at least one additional network path; and

the additional network path information is provided, to the first node of the pair, for use, by the first node of the pair, in a data transmission via the at least one additional network path, from the first node of the pair toward the second node of the pair.

62. The method of claim 44, wherein at least one of:

only part of the instructions is subject to the configuring;

an entirety of the instructions is subject to the configuring;

the at least portion of the instructions that is subject to the configuring is a part thereof that, when executed by the one or more processors of the controller, cause the controller to receive, identify, determine, look up, and provide;

the configuring includes customization;

the configuring includes causing the corresponding identifier to be retrieved;

the configuring includes causing the corresponding identifier to be created;

the configuring includes causing at least one aspect of the corresponding identifier to be retrieved;

the configuring includes causing at least one aspect of the corresponding identifier to be retrieved;

the configuring includes causing an index associated with the corresponding identifier to be set;

the configuring includes causing an index associated with the corresponding identifier to be retrieved;

the at least portion of the instructions that is subject to the configuring is not a part thereof that, when executed by the one or more processors of the controller, cause the controller to at least one of the identify, determine, look up, or provide;

the at least portion of the instructions that is subject to the configuring is not a part thereof that, when executed by the one or more processors of the controller, cause the controller to perform at least one operation other than the receive, identify, determine, look up, and provide;

the plurality of the instructions includes a subset of instructions required for the controller to operate;

the plurality of the instructions includes an entirety of instructions required for the controller to operate;

the causing storage includes causing storage of the instructions on the at least one non-transitory memory for being accessible to a user so that the user is capable of installing the instructions on other memory of the controller, for execution;

the causing storage includes causing storage of the instructions on the at least one non-transitory memory, that is part of the controller, so that the controller is provided to a user for use;

the causing storage includes installation of the instructions;

the causing storage includes causing transfer of the instructions from persistent storage to volatile memory;

the at least one non-transitory memory includes a register;

the at least one non-transitory memory includes volatile memory;

the at least one non-transitory memory includes persistent storage;

the method further comprises configuring the controller;

the method further comprises coupling the at least one non-transitory memory to the one or more processors;

the method further comprises providing the controller;

the method further comprises providing the at least one non-transitory memory;

the method further comprises providing the one or more processors;

the at least one non-transitory memory is part of the controller;

or

the at least one non-transitory memory is separate from controller memory of the controller.