Methods of network routing having improved resistance to faults affecting groups of links subject to common risks

Abstract

A number of techniques are described for routing methods that improve resistance to faults affecting groups of links subject to common risks. One of these techniques accounts for failure potentials in physical networks by considering shared risk link groups separately from performance and costs metrics in determining a primary routing path and a backup path. A shared risk link group (SRLG) is an attribute attached to a link to identify edges that have physical links in common and can therefore be simultaneously disrupted due to a single fault. Another technique considers node disjointness and provides a solution of two paths that are as node disjoint as possible and minimizes administrative costs. The techniques may further be combined in a priority order thereby providing a solution of at least two paths that are strictly SRLG disjoint, as node-disjoint as possible, and have minimum administrative costs. Due to the priority order of evaluation and typical network physical configurations of links, with the links associated common fault SRLGs, the priority ordering technique is very efficient in determining at least two paths for routing between a source and destination node.