Routing network traffic based on whether an application associated with traffic is a rerouting application as defined by a policy and whether a second path ranking exceeds a first path ranking

Abstract

A method of routing network traffic may include routing traffic from a local network device, through a remote network location, to a third party network resource along a first path. The method may also include determining a first ranking for the first path, and determining a second ranking for a second path from the local network device to the third party network resource along a second path, the second path excluding the remote network location. The method may additionally include, based on the second ranking exceeding the first ranking by a threshold amount, rerouting the traffic along the second path.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 receiving a domain name system (DNS) query associated with a traffic flow identified for rerouting through an alternative path that utilizes an alternative network device instead of a default path;   rewriting the DNS query such that the rewritten DNS query is routed through the alternative path and to a DNS server associated with the alternative path;   receiving a DNS response from the DNS server associated with the alternative path; and   rewriting the DNS response such that the DNS response appears to have come along the default path and/or come from a DNS server associated with the default path.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the DNS response is based on the alternative path. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the DNS response is not based on the default path. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the rewriting comprises rewriting the DNS response such that the DNS response appears to have come from the DNS server associated with the default path. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the rewriting comprises rewriting the DNS response such that the DNS response appears to have come along the default path. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the rewriting comprises rewriting a destination IP address or a source IP address. 
     
     
         7 . A non-transitory computer readable media containing instructions which when executed by a system cause the system to perform operations, comprising:
 receiving a domain name system (DNS) query associated with a traffic flow identified for rerouting through an alternative path that utilizes an alternative network device instead of a default path;   rewriting the DNS query such that the rewritten DNS query is routed through the alternative path and to a DNS server associated with the alternative path;   receiving a DNS response from the DNS server associated with the alternative path; and   rewriting the DNS response such that the DNS response appears to have come along the default path and/or come from a DNS server associated with the default path.   
     
     
         8 . The media of  claim 7 , wherein the DNS response is based on the alternative path. 
     
     
         9 . The media of  claim 7 , wherein the DNS response is not based on the default path. 
     
     
         10 . The media of  claim 7 , wherein the rewriting comprises rewriting the DNS response such that the DNS response appears to have come from the DNS server associated with the default path. 
     
     
         11 . The media of  claim 7 , wherein the rewriting comprises rewriting the DNS response such that the DNS response appears to have come along the default path. 
     
     
         12 . The media of  claim 7 , wherein the rewriting comprises rewriting a destination IP address or a source IP address. 
     
     
         13 . A system, comprising:
 a non-transitory computer readable memory containing instructions;   a processor programmed to cooperate with the instructions to perform operations comprising:
 receiving a domain name system (DNS) query associated with a traffic flow identified for rerouting through an alternative path that utilizes an alternative network device instead of a default path; 
 rewriting the DNS query such that the rewritten DNS query is routed through the alternative path and to a DNS server associated with the alternative path; 
 receiving a DNS response from the DNS server associated with the alternative path; and 
 rewriting the DNS response such that the DNS response appears to have come along the default path and/or come from a DNS server associated with the default path. 
   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the DNS response is based on the alternative path. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the DNS response is not based on the default path. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the rewriting comprises rewriting the DNS response such that the DNS response appears to have come from the DNS server associated with the default path. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the rewriting comprises rewriting the DNS response such that the DNS response appears to have come along the default path. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the rewriting comprises rewriting a destination IP address or a source IP address.