Patent attributes
A method includes receiving network monitoring data for a plurality of internet protocol (“IP”) packets, each having been routed along a respective initial path according to a predetermined policy by a routing node. The method also includes receiving a proposed policy designed to cause an intended change in routing future IP packets and generating a corresponding simulation packet for each of the plurality of IP packets based on the network monitoring data. The method still further includes routing each of the simulation packets along a respective simulated path according to the proposed policy to simulate routing the future IP packets and determining, for a particular IP packet, a deviation between the respective simulated path for the corresponding simulation packet and the respective initial path. The method additionally includes determining whether to apply the proposed policy to the routing node based on whether the intended change in routing includes the deviation.