Source routing

In computer networking, source routing, also called path addressing, allows a sender of a data packet to partially or completely specify the route the packet takes through the network.^[1] In contrast, in conventional routing, routers in the network determine the path incrementally based on the packet's destination. Another routing alternative, label switching, is used in connection-oriented networks such as X.25, Frame Relay, Asynchronous Transfer Mode and Multiprotocol Label Switching.

Source routing allows easier troubleshooting, improved traceroute, and enables a node to discover all the possible routes to a host. It does not allow a source to directly manage network performance by forcing packets to travel over one path to prevent congestion on another.

Many high-performance interconnects including Myrinet, Quadrics,^[2] IEEE 1355, and SpaceWire support source routing.

^ Carl A. Sunshine (1977), "Source routing in computer networks", ACM SIGCOMM Computer Communication Review, 7: 29, doi:10.1145/1024853.1024855, S2CID 31169173
^ Patrick Geoffray; Torsten Hoefler (26–28 August 2008). Adaptive Routing Strategies for Modern High Performance Networks (PDF). 16th IEEE Symposium on High Performance Interconnects. IEEE. p. 2. doi:10.1109/HOTI.2008.21. ISBN 978-0-7695-3380-3.

[sunshine-1] Carl A. Sunshine (1977), "Source routing in computer networks", ACM SIGCOMM Computer Communication Review, 7: 29, doi:10.1145/1024853.1024855, S2CID 31169173

[geoffray-2] Patrick Geoffray; Torsten Hoefler (26–28 August 2008). Adaptive Routing Strategies for Modern High Performance Networks (PDF). 16th IEEE Symposium on High Performance Interconnects. IEEE. p. 2. doi:10.1109/HOTI.2008.21. ISBN 978-0-7695-3380-3.

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