About path selection
You configure path selection in the Networking > Network Services: Path Selection page.
Path selection ensures the right traffic travels the right path, by choosing a predefined WAN gateway for certain traffic flows in real time, based on availability. You define a path, called an uplink, by specifying a WAN egress point and providing a direction for the egressing packets to take. This granular path manipulation enables you to better use and more accurately control traffic flow across multiple WAN circuits.
A common use of path selection is to route voice and video over an expensive, high-quality, multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) link, while offloading less time-sensitive business traffic over a less expensive internet VPN or direct internet link. Enabling internet paths makes efficient use of existing resources by taking advantage of both private and public links. Using path selection provides the right performance levels for your applications and saves on bandwidth costs by optimizing the use of available bandwidth.
The path selection WAN egress control:
• is a transparent operation to the client, server, and any networking devices such as routers or switches.
• identifies and processes both optimized and pass-through traffic.
• supports single and multiple firewalled paths (RiOS 8.6 and later).
• is compatible with all SteelHead transport modes, including fixed-target configuration.
• can be used to encrypt traffic using the secure transport service.
The SteelCentral Controller for SteelHead (SCC) and an SSL license are required to configure path selection with the secure transport service. You can’t configure path selection with the secure transport service from the SteelHead. For details, see the SteelCentral Controller for SteelHead User Guide and the SteelCentral Controller for SteelHead Deployment Guide.
Using paths to steer packets
To configure path selection, you define path selection rules to direct any application to any site.
Path selection rules direct matching traffic onto specific uplinks. Traffic is matched by a combination of application and destination site.
You can create multiple rules for a site. When multiple rules are created for a site, the rules are followed in the order in which they’re shown in the Path Selection page and only the first matching rule is applied to the site.
The network topology definition includes direct uplinks on a SteelHead. A SteelHead uses a direct uplink to steer packets to a specific gateway. The SteelHead can reach the gateway over Layer 2, so it can send packets directly to that gateway.
You configure a direct uplink using a SteelHead in-path IP address and a gateway IP address pair. For details, see
About sites and networks settings. When you define path selection rules, you specify the uplink preferences for certain traffic.
You must deploy two SteelHeads using path selection to enforce the return uplink. To define the return uplink for traffic and override the original traffic uplink, you must deploy a SteelHead near the return traffic WAN junction point.
For more details on path selection, see the SteelHead Deployment Guide.