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View Equal Cost Multiple-Paths

Equal Cost Multiple-Paths (ECMP) reports provide a list of all the ECMPs available in your network. You can also view each individual paths highlighted in a separate window.

To view ECMPs in your network:

  1. Right-click on the topology map and select Labels > Link Labels > Show Link Metrics.
    Figure 1: Show Link DistanceDialog box titled Link Labels for network configuration with options to show labels for all, none, selections and text type like interface name, utilization.
  2. The link metrics are displayed.
    Figure 2: Topology Map with Link Distances Network topology diagram with interconnected nodes and labeled links with value 10 indicating bandwidth or cost.
  3. Select Report > Report Manager to open up the Report Manager.
  4. Select Network Reports > Demand Reports > Equal Cost Multi-Path Report from the left panel to bring up the report listing all of the equal cost multiple-paths of the network. As can be seen in Figure 3, there are many such paths. This report is also saved on the server as EQPATHRPT. runcode. Note that the ECMP paths are calculated based on IP metric only, and do not factor in the influence of MPLS traffic engineering tunnels on the demand routing.
    Figure 3: Equal Cost Multiple-Paths ReportNetwork report interface screenshot analyzing Layer 3 ECMP routing with a menu of report categories and a table of ECMP demands including nodes, bandwidth, and path details.
  5. Select Network > Path & Capacity > Equivalent Path to bring up the Demand Equivalent Path window.
    Figure 4: Network > Path & Capacity > Equivalent PathDropdown menu for network path and capacity management with options like Link Rules, Path and Capacity, Equal Metrics at PE, Show Site Demands, Aggreg Demands, Aggreg Tunnels, Pricer, and Templates.
  6. Select Node A and Node B, then click Show Path. The Path window will be displayed.
    Figure 5: Demand Equivalent Path Demand Equivalent Path GUI for network path configuration. Includes Node A and Z selection, IP and IPv6 address fields, owner, bandwidth, path type, priority settings, and buttons for highlighting nodes, showing path, and help.
  7. All of the equivalent paths between the two selected nodes will be displayed in the Paths window. Select a path to view its detailed information and highlight it on the topology map.
    Figure 6: Equivalent Cost PathsNetwork visualization tool showing two panels. Top section lists network paths, interface info, tunnel types, and node IDs. Bottom section displays network topology with color-coded links indicating utilization levels: red high, yellow moderate, green/blue low. Panels compare path configurations for routing optimization and performance monitoring.

    Reducing Equal Cost Multiple Paths

  8. If you choose your link metrics wisely (such as using the real distance in miles like in Figure 7), you can increase the variability of the path costs which will make it less likely for equal cost multiple-paths to occur.
    Figure 7: Topology Map With New Link DistancesNetwork topology diagram with interconnected nodes and links showing metrics like bandwidth or latency. Different colors indicate connection types.
    Figure 8: Routing according to Actual MileageConfiguration window for IP/MPLS network path placement, showing fields for Max Hop, Routing Method, and Path Selection Method.
  9. Open up the Equal Cost Multi-Path Report again and you will see that there are no longer any equal cost multiple-paths in the network with the new link metrics.
    Figure 9: New Equal Cost Multiple-Paths ReportSoftware interface for network report manager with a menu of Layer 3 Network Reports and a detailed Equal Cost Multi-Path report.