Adaptive Network Probing for Encrypted Tunnel Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional traceroute tools are limited in accurately determining network performance metrics, especially when encountering encrypted tunnels and cloud-based systems, as they fail to detect network hops, packet loss, and latency, and are opaque to proxies or firewalls, leading to incomplete and inaccurate results.
Innovation Solution
The use of traceroute techniques combined with API-based detection of egress routers and adaptive probing methods, including ICMP, UDP, and TCP protocols, to segment network paths, detect tunnels, and calculate latency, enabling comprehensive network performance monitoring even through opaque tunnels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional traceroute tools are used to monitor network paths, then basic routing information can be obtained, but accurate network performance metrics (hop detection, packet loss, latency) cannot be determined when encountering encrypted tunnels and cloud-based systems
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the probe parameters by implementing adaptive probing that dynamically selects between ICMP, UDP, and TCP protocols based on network conditions and tunnel types. This allows the traceroute to adapt to different tunnel encapsulations and cloud-based systems, improving measurement precision without losing versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary detection mechanism that identifies tunnel endpoints and cloud-based system boundaries. By detecting tunnel establishment and termination points, the system can insert probes at appropriate locations to measure performance metrics accurately while maintaining compatibility with encrypted communications
2Reliability
If encrypted tunnels are used to secure network communications, then network security is improved, but traceroute tools become opaque and cannot detect network hops, packet loss, and latency
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of tunnel characteristics and endpoint identification before initiating traceroute probes. By预先 detecting tunnel protocols (GRE, IPsec, VPN) and establishing probe parameters in advance, the system can maintain security while preventing information loss about network paths
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a universal probing mechanism that can operate through multiple tunnel types (GRE, IPsec, VPN, HTTP, TCP) and cloud-based systems simultaneously. This multi-functional approach allows the traceroute to maintain network security while gaining visibility into encrypted tunnel paths through adaptive protocol selection
3Ease of operation
If conventional TCP traceroute applications are used, then basic connectivity testing can be performed, but the ability to determine destination reachability and measure processing delay is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic probe adaptation that automatically adjusts probing methods based on destination response characteristics. By dynamically switching between probe types and analyzing response patterns, the system maintains ease of operation while improving destination reachability detection and processing delay measurement
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms that analyze destination responses to determine reachability and measure processing delays. By examining response timing, protocol behavior, and error patterns, the system can accurately assess destination status while maintaining simple operation for users
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for using traceroute with tunnels and cloud-based systems for determining measures of network performance are presented. Systems and methods provide adaptive probing of a service path in a network, wherein the service path includes a plurality of legs. The systems and methods include, for one or more legs of the plurality of legs, sending a number of probes using one of a plurality of protocols; responsive to receiving a response from the number of probes, determining the one of the plurality of protocols is successful and storing this protocol the one or more legs; and, responsive to failure to receive the response, sending a number of probes using another one of the plurality of protocols and continuing until a successful protocol is determined or all of the plurality of protocols fail.