Leveraging Intent-Based Networking and SRv6 for Dynamic End-to-End Traffic Steering

Modern applications, next-generation technologies, and the always-connected world impose new requirements on communication networks. Traditional networks often handle all applications with a best-effort approach, lacking the visibility and advanced technologies required to meet the specific demands of modern applications. Additionally, they require cumbersome network configuration adjustments to establish optimal connectivity, necessitating experts and domain knowledge. As a result, applications do not receive the tailored treatment they need, and end users cannot influence the paths their data packets take. Consequently, innovative network concepts and technologies are essential to meet these evolving conditions. This paper introduces a novel approach that leverages Intent-Based Networking (IBN) management principles and Segment Routing over IPv6 (SRv6) to dynamically calculate and steer application traffic along the most optimal paths based on specific requirements. The proposal does not require changing network configurations and automatically adapts to network changes. It empowers end users to influence the steering of application data without needing deep network expertise. A proof of concept has been developed in a virtual environment, leveraging standardized protocols and open-source software to demonstrate the feasibility and potential impact of this approach.