Segment Path Analytics Details

The segment path details page provides insight into the internal structure of a segment. Previously, it was a black box where you could observe performance changes over time but not know the reasons why these changes would occur. Now, you can track topology changes over time and correlate these with performance variations.

Path details landing page

An ECMP (equal-cost multi-path) is a route taken through the network determined by the routing protocol. It allows network traffic to be distributed across multiple paths of equal cost to reach a destination.

Path details page with an ECMP instance selected

The segment routing analytics details page queries for all ECMPs that were active during the user-selected interval. It then groups the ECMPs that have the same topology into a topology pattern (the letters on the left of the table and at the top of the timeline). This allows users to see the occurrence of certain segment topologies and patterns in their network. For example, in the screenshot above, we can see the ECMP pattern ‘A’ has been the most active ECMP for the past seven days.

ECMP Timeline

The ECMP timeline shows ECMP changes over time by topology pattern. This includes:

The values for each ECMP instance:

• min: the minimum delay possible through the transmission medium(s) (e.g. fiber-optic) in the ECMP

• metric: the reported metric value for that ECMP

• max: the maximum minimum latency of the ECMP. If there were multiple paths available in the ECMP graph, this value would represent the maximum minimum latency if it were to route through the slowest transmission medium(s)

Interaction

• Hovering an ECMP instance will show you that ECMP’s specific KPIs

• Clicking on an ECMP instance will open up the ECMP visualization detailed below

• Clicking the gear icon allows you to select a different aggregation for the displayed metrics

• Upon selection, dropdown’s appear for further segment investigation and traversal

ECMP timeline showing the different ECMP instances, their corresponding topology pattern and their metric values

Table Data

The table on the bottom half shows macro trends of the segment over time along with the respective KPI data. Depending on user interaction, the table will show different breakdowns of the selected data. Users can also choose between viewing the data by ECMP pattern or by link in-between ECMP elements. The table is sorted by rows with the most occurrence for the selected interval.

Table grouped by topology pattern

Table grouped by links (different colors in the occurrence represent different ECMP patterns)

Selecting an ECMP instance or an ECMP pattern, the table will update to show users all occurrences when that ECMP topology pattern was active on the segment.

The latest ECMP instance of pattern A is selected

Selecting a link will update the table to show all instances in time that the selected link was active on the segment.

Link sr1.DAL-sr1.ATL was selected, all instances grouped by ECMP pattern are displayed in the table.

ECMP Visualization

Clicking an ECMP instance in the timeseries or clicking a row in the table will open a visualization of the selected ECMP topology pattern. This shows the currently selected route in dark grey as well as all of the other links from other patterns in light grey. If reported, the light-speed delay between each element link is also shown. If the topology is large, users can pan (click-hold-drag) to traverse the path.

ECMP topology for pattern A

Comparing ECMP Events

Selecting a second ECMP instance in the ECMP timeseries or clicking the Add comparison button will allow users to compare two different ECMP instances by their topology as well as KPIs.

In this example, an ECMP instance from pattern C is compared to the latest ECMP instance from pattern A.

The topology visualization with example data shows some interesting findings. Similarities and differences between the two ECMP topology nodes and links are denoted using different colors.

• Dark grey: these are the links and nodes both C and A share

• Purple: these are nodes and links unique to A

• Green: the link below is unique to C

Below the visualization, metrics of the two ECMP instances can be compared.