Patent ID: 8374089

Claim:
A computer-implemented method, comprising: providing a plurality of possible paths between each pair of multi-path load balancing (MPLB) components of a plurality of MPLB components within a Layer 2 network by establishing a plurality of overlapping loop-free topologies within the Layer 2 network in which each of the plurality of MPLB components is reachable by any other of the plurality of MPLB components via each of the plurality of overlapping loop-free topologies; receiving, by a first MPLB component of the plurality of MPLB components, one or more packets associated with a flow sent by a source component, wherein the source component is sending the one or more packets associated with the flow at a particular rate; forwarding, by the first MPLB component, the one or more packets associated with the flow to a second MPLB component of the plurality of MPLB components along a particular path in a network; determining a congestion metric for the particular path; determining, based at least partially upon the congestion metric for the particular path, whether the particular path has reached a congestion threshold; and in response to a determination that the particular path has reached a congestion threshold, instructing the source component to limit the rate at which the source component is sending packets associated with the flow.