directtorouting

Directtorouting is a routing concept in computer networks that seeks to steer traffic along a direct, explicitly defined path from source to destination, rather than relying solely on traditional hop-by-hop forwarding. The approach often involves programmable networking elements and centralized control, enabling operators to specify end-to-end routes for individual flows or classes of traffic.

In practice, directtorouting is enabled by software-defined networking (SDN), segment routing, or other forms of programmable data planes. Network controllers or distributed control planes install flow rules or path identifiers that direct packets along the chosen path, encoding the complete route in packet headers or in external routing state. This can be used in data centers or wide-area networks to bypass unnecessary hops, reduce latency, or implement deterministic paths for critical services.

Benefits include lower latency, improved throughput predictability, and enhanced control over traffic engineering. It is particularly relevant for latency-sensitive applications, real-time analytics, or multi-tenant environments where service-level agreements require precise path selection.

Challenges include complexity in maintaining accurate path state, scalability concerns with per-flow routing, risk of misconfiguration that can create black holes or loops, and interoperability issues with legacy routing protocols. Security considerations involve protecting the centralized control plane and ensuring that path information cannot be manipulated to bypass safeguards. Adoption tends to be vendor-specific and is not yet standardized.

Directtorouting sits at the intersection of routing theory and programmable networks, adjacent to concepts such as SDN, segment routing, and traffic engineering with MPLS. See also software-defined networking, traffic engineering, segment routing, MPLS, and SD-WAN.