Fortinet, Inc.
Active path detection for on-demand network links in a software-defined wide area network (SDWAN)

Abstract:

Systems and methods are described for active path detection for on-demand network links in an SDWAN. According to one embodiment, on establishment of an on-demand network link between a first spoke device and a second spoke device of an SDWAN, the first spoke creates a health check object and periodically measures a metric representing a latency between the first and second spokes. Responsive to receipt of a packet via the on-demand network link, the first spoke determines whether the packet represents transmission of probing or user traffic. When the packet represents user traffic, the first spoke causes an idle timer associated with the on-demand network link to be restarted. When the packet represents probing traffic, the first spoke allows the idle timer to run so the on-demand network link may be removed when the idle timer expires.