Shifting network traffic from a network device

Abstract

A traffic shifting system is described to shift traffic away from one or more network devices or interfaces. The system ensures that traffic can be safely shifted off of a network device before the shifting occurs. The method is described as broken into several phases, such as a discovery phase, a pre-check phase, a shifting phase, and a post-shift phase. Before shifting occurs, the discovery phase is used to obtain network topology and configuration information. In the pre-check phase, that information is interrogated so that a shifting can be performed without negatively impacting the network. If the pre-check phase is passed, then the network shifting can occur through adjustment of configuration parameters, such as a cost parameter associated with an interface on any devices for which traffic is being shifted. Finally, in the post-shift phase, checks are performed to ensure traffic is shifting away from the network device.