Browse Definitions :
Definition

segment routing

Segment routing is a computer networking process used by networking and traffic engineering professionals that organizes collections of information, or packets, to follow a linear set of instructions. This form of packet forwarding is a variant of source routing and can be installed on top of existing Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) or IPv6 network infrastructure.

In segment routing, the network source defines the path for traffic which is then encoded in a packet header as an ordered list of nodes, referred to as segments. Using this framework helps network operators avoid traffic congestion and steer nodes over different paths based on requirements or the state of the network.

How segment routing works

The way that packets are transmitted along a path is determined by the type of network in use. In all networking, information is transmitted over a theoretical data plane (DP) within the network's infrastructure. Data that is transmitted comes directly from users and it is combined with data that is a part of the network. In segment routing, the information is organized into individual segments which travel along a determined path.

A segment is an instruction within a computer program or system. For example, a segment could be a forwarding instruction to transmit a packet to a specific interface. There are two types of segments, a node segment and an adjacency segment. Node segments identify the shortest path to a destination while adjacency segments link nodes together.

In a segment routed network, the SDN controller will assign each node a unique segment identifier, process it and calculate an appropriate path or response. As each instruction, or segment, occurs, it is designated as an activated segment. In most networking systems, the physical device used to carry out segment routing is a router, or a midpoint device between a computer and modem.

Benefits of segment routing

Segment routing is meant to serve as a simplified version of MPLS, a network that dynamically moves between internet protocols (IPs) in order to improve speed. It can be implemented within existing MLPS architecture, using resources more efficiently and speeding up processing and information exchange. Additional benefits of executing segment routing include easier scalability, better flexibility, higher latency, more balance between systems and improved operational simplicity.

This was last updated in January 2019

Continue Reading About segment routing

Networking
  • firewall as a service (FWaaS)

    Firewall as a service (FWaaS), also known as a cloud firewall, is a service that provides cloud-based network traffic analysis ...

  • private 5G

    Private 5G is a wireless network technology that delivers 5G cellular connectivity for private network use cases.

  • NFVi (network functions virtualization infrastructure)

    NFVi (network functions virtualization infrastructure) encompasses all of the networking hardware and software needed to support ...

Security
  • virus (computer virus)

    A computer virus is a type of malware that attaches itself to a program or file. A virus can replicate and spread across an ...

  • Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)

    Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) is an advanced certification that indicates that an individual possesses the ...

  • cryptography

    Cryptography is a method of protecting information and communications using codes, so that only those for whom the information is...

CIO
  • IT project management

    IT project management is the process of planning, organizing and delineating responsibility for the completion of an ...

  • chief financial officer (CFO)

    A chief financial officer (CFO) is the corporate title for the person responsible for managing a company's financial operations ...

  • chief strategy officer (CSO)

    A chief strategy officer (CSO) is a C-level executive charged with helping formulate, facilitate and communicate an ...

HRSoftware
Customer Experience
  • martech (marketing technology)

    Martech (marketing technology) refers to the integration of software tools, platforms, and applications designed to streamline ...

  • transactional marketing

    Transactional marketing is a business strategy that focuses on single, point-of-sale transactions.

  • customer profiling

    Customer profiling is the detailed and systematic process of constructing a clear portrait of a company's ideal customer by ...

Close