A method comprising: accessing a first tunnel connection (150, 155, 160) that traverses a first communication circuit (130, 135, 140), the first communication circuit (130, 135, 140) providing packet data communications over a network between a first location and a second location; accessing a second tunnel connection (150, 155, 160) that traverses a second communication circuit (130, 135, 140), the second communication circuit (130, 135, 140) providing packet data communications over a network between the first location and the second location; generating and transmitting first monitoring packets through the first and second tunnel connections (150, 155, 160) in a first direction from the first location to the second location; generating and transmitting second monitoring packets through the first and second tunnel connections (150, 155, 160) in a second direction from the second location to the first location; based on the first and second monitoring packets, calculating at least one performance metric for each of the first and second communication circuits (130, 135, 140), separately for the first direction and for the second direction; defining at least a first load balancing circuit set and a second load balancing circuit set, the first circuit set for carrying a first type of customer traffic, and the second circuit set for carrying a second type of customer traffic; for each circuit set, establishing a corresponding minimum set of performance metrics for a communication circuit (130, 135, 140) to qualify for assignment to the circuit set; comparing the calculated at least one performance metric for the first communication circuit (130, 135, 140) to the minimum set of performance metrics for the first circuit set; in the case that the first communication circuit (130, 135, 140) at least meets the minimum set of performance metrics for the first circuit set, assigning the first communication circuit (130, 135, 140) to the first circuit set; repeating the foregoing comparing and assigning steps for at least the second communication circuit (130, 135, 140); and repeating the foregoing comparing, assigning and repeating steps for at least the second circuit set. accessing a first tunnel connection (150, 155, 160) that traverses a first communication circuit (130, 135, 140), the first communication circuit (130, 135, 140) providing packet data communications over a network between a first location and a second location; accessing a second tunnel connection (150, 155, 160) that traverses a second communication circuit (130, 135, 140), the second communication circuit (130, 135, 140) providing packet data communications over a network between the first location and the second location; generating and transmitting first monitoring packets through the first and second tunnel connections (150, 155, 160) in a first direction from the first location to the second location; generating and transmitting second monitoring packets through the first and second tunnel connections (150, 155, 160) in a second direction from the second location to the first location; based on the first and second monitoring packets, calculating at least one performance metric for each of the first and second communication circuits (130, 135, 140), separately for the first direction and for the second direction; defining at least a first load balancing circuit set and a second load balancing circuit set, the first circuit set for carrying a first type of customer traffic, and the second circuit set for carrying a second type of customer traffic; for each circuit set, establishing a corresponding minimum set of performance metrics for a communication circuit (130, 135, 140) to qualify for assignment to the circuit set; comparing the calculated at least one performance metric for the first communication circuit (130, 135, 140) to the minimum set of performance metrics for the first circuit set; in the case that the first communication circuit (130, 135, 140) at least meets the minimum set of performance metrics for the first circuit set, assigning the first communication circuit (130, 135, 140) to the first circuit set; repeating the foregoing comparing and assigning steps for at least the second communication circuit (130, 135, 140); and repeating the foregoing comparing, assigning and repeating steps for at least the second circuit set.