초록 ▼

A delay measurement technique according to an embodiment according to the present invention is based on the precept, ascertained by the inventors, that a link between network nodes will often contribute to the delay encountered between several different pairs of network nodes. Such a technique ident

A delay measurement technique according to an embodiment according to the present invention is based on the precept, ascertained by the inventors, that a link between network nodes will often contribute to the delay encountered between several different pairs of network nodes. Such a technique identifies the path between each pair of nodes by a list of links that form the path. Paths that are orthogonal are treated as being necessary for describing the delays encountered between nodes, and, once the requisite set of orthogonal paths has been derived, all other paths can be described in terms of one or more of these orthogonal paths. Such a technique also lends itself to matrix representation of the paths, and the use of matrix manipulation techniques in deriving delay and jitter.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method comprising:identifying enterprise network element pairs, wherein said enterprise network element pairs are pairs of ones of a plurality of enterprise network elements, and each one of said enterprise network elements is coupled to at least one other of said enterprise network elements; i

1. A method comprising:identifying enterprise network element pairs, wherein said enterprise network element pairs are pairs of ones of a plurality of enterprise network elements, and each one of said enterprise network elements is coupled to at least one other of said enterprise network elements; identifying ones of a plurality of backbone network elements as ingress/egress backbone network elements, wherein each one of said backbone network elements is coupled to at least one other of said backbone network elements, and each one of said ingress/egress backbone network elements is coupled to at least one of said ones of said enterprise network elements; for each of said enterprise network element pairs, identifying a path between a first and a second enterprise network element of said each of said enterprise network element pairs; for each one of said paths that includes a pair of said ingress/egress backbone network elements, identifying a virtual path between said pair of said ingress/egress backbone network elements; and identifying a plurality of independent paths of said paths and a plurality of non-independent paths of said paths, wherein each of said non-independent paths can be defined as a combination of ones of said independent paths, and at least one of said independent paths includes at least one of said virtual paths. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said identifying said ones of said backbone network elements as said ingress/egress backbone network elements comprises:forming clusters, wherein each of said clusters includes at least one of said ingress/egress backbone network elements. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said combination is a linear combination.4. The method of claim 1, wherein said each of said enterprise network elements is coupled to said at least one other of said enterprise network elements by one of a plurality of enterprise network links and said method further comprises:for said each of said enterprise network element pairs, defining a delay between a first enterprise network element and a second enterprise network element of said each of said enterprise network element pairs as comprising a delay associated with each enterprise network link and each virtual path in said path. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein said identifying said ones of said backbone network elements as said ingress/egress backbone network elements comprises:aggregating at least one of said enterprise network elements and at least one of said backbone network elements into a cluster. 6. The method of claim 5, further comprisingidentifying each of said ingress/egress backbone network elements using a domain name of said each of said ingress/egress backbone network elements. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein said identifying said ones of said backbone network elements as said ingress/egress backbone network elements further comprises:for each of said enterprise network elements coupled to at least one of said ingress/egress backbone network elements, for each of said at least one of said ingress/egress backbone network elements, determining a domain name of said each of said at least one of said ingress/egress backbone network elements, including said each of said at least one of said ingress/egress backbone network elements in an existing cluster in a set of clusters, wherein each cluster in said set of clusters is configured to be identified by a domain name, if said domain name of said each of said at least one of said ingress/egress backbone network elements is equivalent to a domain name corresponding to said existing cluster, and creating a new cluster in said set of clusters and including said each of said at least one of said ingress/egress backbone network elements in said new cluster, otherwise. 8. The method of claim 6, wherein said identifying said ones of said backbone network elements as ingress/egress backbone network elements further comprises:including said each of said enterprise network elements coupled to said at least one of said ingress/egress backbone network elements, if said domain name of said each of said at least one of said ingress/egress backbone network elements is equivalent to said domain name corresponding to said existing cluster, and including said each of said enterprise network elements coupled to at least one of said ingress/egress backbone network elements in said new cluster, otherwise. 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:measuring a measured network performance metric between a first enterprise network element and a second enterprise network element of one of said at least one of said independent paths; and computing a computed network performance metric between a first network element and a second network element of at least one of said non-independent enterprise network element pairs using said measured network performance metric. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein each one of said independent paths has end-points defined by a first and a second enterprise network element that form an independent enterprise network element pair.11. The method of claim 9, wherein each of said virtual paths is represented by a virtual link.12. The method of claim 9, whereinsaid identifying said enterprise network element pairs comprises identifying pairs of said enterprise network elements as being in a first set of enterprise network element pairs, and said identifying said independent paths and said non-independent paths comprises generating a first matrix from said first set of enterprise network element pairs, wherein each row in said first matrix corresponds to a corresponding enterprise network element pair in said first set of enterprise network element pairs, said first matrix comprises independent rows and non-independent rows, each of said independent rows corresponds to one of said independent paths, and each of said non-independent rows corresponds to one of said non-independent paths, and forming a second set of enterprise network element pairs, wherein said second set of enterprise network element pairs contains independent enterprise network element pairs in said first set of enterprise network element pairs, and each one of said independent pairs of enterprise network element corresponds to a one of said independent rows of said first matrix. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein said measuring comprises:measuring said measured network performance metric between a first enterprise network element and a second enterprise network element of each enterprise network element pair in said second set of enterprise network element pairs. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein said computing comprises:computing said computed network performance metric between a first enterprise network element and a second enterprise network element of a remaining enterprise network element pair in said first set of enterprise network element pairs using at least one of said measured network performance metrics, wherein said remaining enterprise network element pair corresponds to a non-independent row of said first matrix. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein said computing said computed network performance metric between said first enterprise network element and said second enterprise network element of said remaining enterprise network element pair further comprises:forming a second matrix, wherein each row of said second matrix corresponds to a corresponding one of said non-independent rows of said first matrix, and said each row of said second matrix is such that said corresponding one of said non-independent rows of said first matrix can be expressed in terms of said independent rows using said each row of said second matrix; organizing said measured network performance metrics into a vector; and computing said computed network performance metric between said first enterprise network element and said second enterprise network element of said remaining enterprise network element pair by multiplying said vector by a row of said second matrix corresponding to said remaining enterprise network element pair. 16. The method of claim 15, herein said second matrix is a matrix A.17. The method of claim 14, wherein said computing said computed network performance metric between said first enterprise network element and said second enterprise network element of said remaining enterprise network element pair comprises:creating a vector equivalent to said non-independent row of said first matrix by combining a plurality of said independent rows of said first matrix; and computing said computed network performance metric by combining a measured network performance metric of each enterprise network element pair of said second set of enterprise network element pairs corresponding to one of said plurality of said independent rows of said first matrix. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein each one of said enterprise network elements is a router.19. The method of claim 12, wherein said first set of enterprise network element pairs is a requirements set.20. The method of claim 19, wherein said second set of enterprise network element pairs is a measurements set.21. The method of claim 20, wherein each one of said enterprise network elements is a router.22. The method of claim 12, wherein said first matrix is a matrix F.23. The method of claim 12, further comprising:computing a number, wherein said number is equal to a rank of said first matrix; determining if a first said number of rows of said first matrix are independent; and if said first said number of said rows of said first matrix are not independent, re-arranging said rows of said first matrix such that said first said number of said rows of said first matrix are independent. 24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:identifying a maximal set of independent rows of said first matrix based on said number. 25. The method of claim 23, wherein said rearranging further comprises:re-arranging said pairs of said enterprise network elements in said first set of enterprise network element pairs such that said correspondence between each row of said first matrix and said corresponding enterprise network element pair in said first set of enterprise network element pairs is maintained. 26. The method of claim 25, wherein said forming said second set of enterprise network element pairs comprises:copying a first said number of pairs of said enterprise network elements in said first set of enterprise network element pairs into said second set of enterprise network element pairs. 27. The method of claim 1, wherein said backbone network elements have an architecture similar to said enterprise network elements.28. A computer system comprising:a processor; a network interface, coupled to said processor and to an enterprise network, wherein said network comprises a plurality of enterprise network elements and each one of said enterprise network elements is coupled to at least one other of said enterprise network elements; computer readable medium coupled to said processor; and computer code, encoded in said computer readable medium, configured to cause said processor to: identify enterprise network element pairs, wherein said enterprise network element pairs are pairs of ones of said plurality of enterprise network elements; identify ones of a plurality of backbone network elements as ingress/egress backbone network elements, wherein each one of said backbone network elements is coupled to at least one other of said backbone network elements, and each one of said ingress/egress backbone network elements is coupled to at least one of-said ones of said enterprise network elements; for each of said enterprise network element pairs, identify a path between a first and a second enterprise network element of said each of said enterprise network element pairs; for each one of said paths that includes a pair of said ingress/egress backbone network elements, identify a virtual path between said pair of said ingress/egress backbone network elements; and identify a plurality of independent paths of said paths and a plurality of non-independent paths of said paths, wherein each of said non-independent paths can be defined as a combination of ones of said independent paths, and at least one of said independent paths includes at least one of said virtual paths. 29. The computer system of claim 28, wherein said computer code configured to cause said processor to identify said ones of said backbone network elements as said ingress/egress backbone network elements is further configured to cause said processor to:form clusters, wherein each of said clusters includes at least one of said ingress/egress backbone network elements. 30. The computer system of claim 28, wherein said combination is a linear combination.31. The computer system of claim 28, wherein said each of said enterprise network elements is coupled to said at least one other of said enterprise network elements by one of a plurality of enterprise network links and said computer code is further configured to cause said processor to:for said each of said enterprise network element pairs, define a delay between a first enterprise network element and a second enterprise network element of said each of said enterprise network element pairs as comprising a delay associated with each enterprise network link and each virtual path in said path. 32. The computer system of claim 28, wherein said computer code configured to cause said processor to identify said ones of said backbone network elements as said ingress/egress backbone network elements is further configured to cause said processor to:aggregate at least one of said enterprise network elements and at least one of said backbone network elements into a cluster. 33. The computer system of claim 32, wherein said computer code configured to cause said processor to identify said ones of said backbone network elements as said ingress/egress backbone network elements is still further configured to cause said processor to:identify each of said ingress/egress backbone network elements using a domain name of said each of said ingress/egress backbone network elements. 34. The computer system of claim 33, wherein said computer code configured to cause said processor to identify said ones of said backbone network elements as said ingress/egress backbone network elements is still further configured to cause said processor to:for each of said enterprise network elements coupled to at least one of said ingress/egress backbone network elements, for each of said at least one of said ingress/egress backbone network elements, determine a domain name of said each of said at least one of said ingress/egress backbone network elements, include said each of said at least one of said ingress/egress backbone network elements in an existing cluster in a set of clusters, wherein each cluster in said set of clusters is configured to be identified by a domain name, if said domain name of said each of said at least one of said ingress/egress backbone network elements is equivalent to a domain name corresponding to said existing cluster, and create a new cluster in said set of clusters and including said each of said at least one of said ingress/egress backbone network elements in said new cluster, otherwise. 35. The computer system of claim 33, wherein said computer code configured to cause said processor to identify said ones of said backbone network elements as said ingress/egress backbone network elements is still further configured to cause said processor to:include said each of said enterprise network elements coupled to said at least one of said ingress/egress backbone network elements, if said domain name of said each of said at least one of said ingress/egress backbone network elements is equivalent to said domain name corresponding to said existing cluster, and include said each of said enterprise network elements coupled to at least one of said ingress/egress backbone network elements in said new cluster, otherwise. 36. The computer system of claim 28, wherein said computer code is further configured to cause said processor to:measure a measured network performance metric between a first enterprise network element and a second enterprise network element of one of said at least one of said independent paths; and compute a computed network performance metric between a first network element and a second network element of at least one of said non-independent enterprise network element pairs using said measured network performance metric. 37. The computer system of claim 36, wherein each one of said independent paths has end-points defined by a first and a second enterprise network element that form an independent enterprise network element pair.38. The computer system of claim 36, wherein each of said virtual paths is represented by a virtual link.39. The computer system of claim 36, whereinsaid computer code configured to cause said processor to identify said enterprise network element pairs is configured to cause said processor to identify pairs of said enterprise network elements as being in a first set of enterprise network element pairs, and said computer code configured to cause said processor to identify said independent paths and said non-independent paths is configured to cause said processor to generate a first matrix from said first set of enterprise network element pairs, wherein each row in said first matrix corresponds to a corresponding enterprise network element pair in said first set of enterprise network element pairs, said first matrix comprises independent rows and non-independent rows, each of said independent rows corresponds to one of said independent paths, and each of said non-independent rows corresponds to one of said non-independent paths, and form a second set of enterprise network element pairs, wherein said second set of enterprise network element pairs contains independent enterprise network element pairs in said first set of enterprise network element pairs, and each one of said independent pairs of enterprise network element corresponds to a one of said independent rows of said first matrix. 40. The computer system of claim 39, wherein said computer code configured to cause said processor to measure said measured network performance metric is configured to cause said processor to:measures aid measured network performance metric between a first enterprise network element and a second enterprise network element of each enterprise network element pair in said second set of enterprise network element pairs. 41. The computer system of claim 40, wherein said computer code configured to cause said processor to compute said computed network performance metric is configured to cause said processor to:compute said computed network performance metric between a first enterprise network element and a second enterprise network element of a remaining enterprise network element pair in said first set of enterprise network element pairs using at least one of said measured network performance metrics, wherein said remaining enterprise network element pair corresponds to a non-independent row of said first matrix. 42. The computer system of claim 41, wherein said computer code configured to cause said processor to compute said computed network performance metric between a first enterprise network element and a second enterprise network element of a remaining enterprise network element pair in said first set of enterprise network element pairs is further configured to cause said processor to:form a second matrix, wherein each row of said second matrix corresponds to a corresponding one of said non-independent rows of said first matrix, and said each row of said second matrix is such that said corresponding one of said non-independent rows of said first matrix can be expressed in terms of said independent rows using said each row of said second matrix; organize said measured network performance metrics into a vector; and compute said computed network performance metric between said first enterprise network element and said second enterprise network element of said remaining enterprise network element pair by multiplying said vector by a row of said second matrix corresponding to said remaining enterprise network element pair. 43. The computer system of claim 42, wherein said second matrix is a matrix A.44. The computer system of claim 41, wherein said computer code configured to cause said processor to compute said computed network performance metric between said first enterprise network element and said second enterprise network element of said remaining enterprise network element pair is configured to cause said processor to:create a vector equivalent to said non-independent row of said first matrix by combining a plurality of said independent rows of said first matrix; and compute said computed network performance metric by combining a measured network performance metric of each enterprise network element pair of said second set of enterprise network element pairs corresponding to one of said plurality of said independent rows of said first matrix. 45. The computer system of claim 44, wherein each one of said enterprise network elements is a router.46. The computer system of claim 39, wherein said first set of enterprise network element pairs is a requirements set.47. The computer system of claim 46, wherein said second set of enterprise network element pairs is a measurements set.48. The computer system of claim 47, wherein each one of said enterprise network elements is a router.49. The computer system of claim 39, wherein said first matrix is a matrix F.50. The computer system of claim 39, wherein said computer code is further configured to cause said processor to:compute a number, wherein said number is equal to a rank of said first matrix; determine if a first said number of rows of said first matrix are independent; and if said first said number of said rows of said first matrix are not independent, re-arrange said rows of said first matrix such that said first said number of said rows of said first matrix are independent. 51. The computer system of claim 50, wherein said computer code is further configured to cause said processor to:identify a maximal set of independent rows of said first matrix based on said number. 52. The computer system of claim 50, wherein said computer code configured to cause said processor to re-arrange said rows of said first matrix is configured to cause said processor to:re-arrange said pairs of said enterprise network elements in said first set of enterprise network element pairs such that said correspondence between each row of said first matrix and said corresponding enterprise network element pair in said first set of enterprise network element pairs is maintained. 53. The computer system of claim 52, wherein said computer code configured to cause said processor to form said second set of enterprise network element pairs is configured to cause said processor to:copy a first said number of pairs of said enterprise network elements in said first set of enterprise network element pairs into said second set of enterprise network element pairs. 54. The computer system of claim 28, wherein said backbone network elements have an architecture similar to said enterprise network elements.55. A computer program product encoded in computer readable media, said computer program product comprising:a first set of instructions, executable on a computer system, configured to identify enterprise network element pairs, wherein said enterprise network element pairs are pairs of ones of a plurality of enterprise network elements, and each one of said enterprise network elements is coupled to at least one other of said enterprise network elements; a second set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to identify ones of a plurality of backbone network elements as ingress/egress backbone network elements, wherein each one of said backbone network elements is coupled to at least one other of said backbone network elements, and each one of said ingress/egress backbone network elements is coupled to at least one of said ones of said enterprise network elements; a third set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to, for each of said enterprise network element pairs, identify a path between a first and a second enterprise network element of said each of said enterprise network element pairs; a fourth set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to, for each one of said paths that includes a pair of said ingress/egress backbone network elements, identify a virtual path between said pair of said ingress/egress backbone network elements; and a fifth set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to identify a plurality of independent paths of said paths and a plurality of non-independent paths of said paths, wherein each of said non-independent paths can be defined as a combination of ones of said independent paths, and at least one of said independent paths includes at least one of said virtual paths. 56. The computer program product of claim 55, wherein said second set of instructions comprises:a first sub-set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to form clusters, wherein each of said clusters includes at least one of said ingress/egress backbone network elements. 57. The computer program product of claim 55, wherein said combination is a linear combination.58. The computer program product of claim 55, wherein said each of said enterprise network elements is coupled to said at least one other of said enterprise network elements by one of a plurality of enterprise network links and said computer program product further comprises:a sixth set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to, for said each of said enterprise network element pairs, define a delay between a first enterprise network element and a second enterprise network element of said each of said enterprise network element pairs as comprising a delay associated with each enterprise network link and each virtual path in said path. 59. The computer program product of claim 55, wherein said second set of instructions comprises:a first sub-set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to aggregate at least one of said enterprise network elements and at least one of said backbone network elements into a cluster. 60. The computer program product of claim 59, wherein said second set of instructions further comprises:a second sub-set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to identify each of said ingress/egress backbone network elements using a domain name of said each of said ingress/egress backbone network elements. 61. The computer program product of claim 60, wherein said second set of instructions still further comprises:for each of said enterprise network elements coupled to at least one of said ingress/egress backbone network elements, a third sub-set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to, for each of said at least one of said ingress/egress backbone network elements, determine a domain name of said each of said at least one of said ingress/egress backbone network elements, include said each of said at least one of said ingress/egress backbone network elements in an existing cluster in a set of clusters, wherein each cluster in said set of clusters is configured to be identified by a domain name, if said domain name of said each of said at least one of said ingress/egress backbone network elements is equivalent to a domain name corresponding to said existing cluster, and create a new cluster in said set of clusters and including said each of said at least one of said ingress/egress backbone network elements in said new cluster, otherwise. 62. The computer program product of claim 60, wherein said second set of instructions still further comprises:a third sub-set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to include said each of said enterprise network elements coupled to said at least one of said ingress/egress backbone network elements, if said domain name of said each of said at least one of said ingress/egress backbone network elements is equivalent to said domain name corresponding to said existing cluster, and a fourth sub-set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to include said each of said enterprise network elements coupled to at least one of said ingress/egress backbone network elements in said new cluster, otherwise. 63. The computer program product of claim 55, further comprising:a sixth set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to measure a measured network performance metric between a first enterprise network element and a second enterprise network element of one of said at least one of said independent paths; and a seventh set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to compute a computed network performance metric between a first network element and a second network element of at least one of said non-independent enterprise network element pairs using said measured network performance metric. 64. The computer program product of claim 63, wherein each one of said independent paths has end-points defined by a first and a second enterprise network element that form an independent enterprise network element pair.65. The computer program product of claim 63, wherein each of said virtual paths is represented by a virtual link.66. The computer program product of claim 63, whereinsaid first set of instructions comprises a first sub-set of said first set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to identify pairs of said enterprise network elements as being in a first set of enterprise network element pairs, and said fifth set of instructions comprises a first sub-set of said fifth set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to generate a first matrix from said first set of enterprise network element pairs, wherein each row in said first matrix corresponds to a corresponding enterprise network element pair in said first set of enterprise network element pairs, said first matrix comprises independent rows and non-independent rows, each of said independent rows corresponds to one of said independent paths, and each of said non-independent rows corresponds to one of said non-independent paths, and a second sub-set of said fifth set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to form a second set of enterprise network element pairs, wherein said second set of enterprise network element pairs contains independent enterprise network element pairs in said first set of enterprise network element pairs, and each one of said independent pairs of enterprise network element corresponds to a one of said independent rows of said first matrix. 67. The computer program product of claim 66, wherein said sixth set of instructions comprises:a first sub-set of said sixth set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to measure said measured network performance metric between a first enterprise network element and a second enterprise network element of each enterprise network element pair in said second set of enterprise network element pairs. 68. The computer program product of claim 67, wherein said seventh set of instructions comprises:a first sub-set of said seventh set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to compute said computed network performance metric between a first enterprise network element and a second enterprise network element of a remaining enterprise network element pair in said first set of enterprise network element pairs using at least one of said measured network performance metrics, wherein said remaining enterprise network element pair corresponds to a non-independent row of said first matrix. 69. The computer program product of claim 68, wherein said first sub-set of seventh set of instructions further comprises:a first sub-sub-set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to form a second matrix, wherein each row of said second matrix corresponds to a corresponding one of said non-independent rows of said first matrix, and said each row of said second matrix is such that said corresponding one of said non-independent rows of said first matrix can be expressed in terms of said independent rows using said each row of said second matrix; a second sub-sub-set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to organize said measured network performance metrics into a vector; and a third sub-sub-set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to compute said computed network performance metric between said first enterprise network element and said second enterprise network element of said remaining enterprise network element pair by multiplying said vector by a row of said second matrix corresponding to said remaining enterprise network element pair. 70. The computer program product of claim 69, wherein said second matrix is a matrix A.71. The computer program product of claim 68, wherein said first sub-set of seventh set of instructions further comprises:a first sub-sub-set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to create a vector equivalent to said non-independent row of said first matrix by combining a plurality of said independent rows of said first matrix; and a second sub-sub-set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to compute said computed network performance metric by combining a measured network performance metric of each enterprise network element pair of said second set of enterprise network element pairs corresponding to one of said plurality of said independent rows of said first matrix. 72. The computer program product of claim 71, wherein each one of said enterprise network elements is a router.73. The computer program product of claim 66, wherein said first set of enterprise network element pairs is a requirements set.74. The computer program product of claim 73, wherein said second set of enterprise network element pairs is a measurements set.75. The computer program product of claim 74, wherein each one of said enterprise network elements is a router.76. The computer program product of claim 66, wherein said first matrix is a matrix F.77. The computer program product of claim 66, further comprising:an eighth set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to compute a number, wherein said number is equal to a rank of said first matrix; a ninth set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to determine if a first said number of rows of said first matrix are independent; and a tenth set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to, if said first said number of said rows of said first matrix are not independent, re-arrange said rows of said first matrix such that said first said number of said rows of said first matrix are independent. 78. The computer program product of claim 77, further comprising:an eleventh set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to identify a maximal set of independent rows of said first matrix based on said number. 79. The computer program product of claim 77, wherein said tenth set of instructions comprise:a first sub-set of said tenth set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to re-arrange said pairs of said enterprise network elements in said first set of enterprise network element pairs such that said correspondence between each row of said first matrix and said corresponding enterprise network element pair in said first set of enterprise network element pairs is maintained. 80. The computer program product of claim 79, wherein said second sub-set of said fifth set of instructions comprise:a first sub-sub-set of said second sub-set of said fifth set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to copy a first said number of pairs of said enterprise network elements in said first set of enterprise network element pairs into said second set of enterprise network element pairs. 81. The computer program product of claim 55, wherein said backbone network elements have an architecture similar to said enterprise network elements.82. An apparatus comprising:means for identifying enterprise network element pairs, wherein said enterprise network element pairs are pairs of ones of a plurality of enterprise network elements, and each one of said enterprise network elements is coupled to at least one other of said enterprise network elements; means for identifying ones of a plurality of backbone network elements as ingress/egress backbone network elements, wherein each one of said backbone network elements is coupled to at least one other of said backbone network elements, and each one of said ingress/egress backbone network elements is coupled to at least one of said ones of said enterprise network elements; means, for each of said enterprise network element pairs, for identifying a path between a first and a second enterprise network element of said each of said enterprise network element pairs; means, for each one of said paths that includes a pair of said ingress/egress backbone network elements, for identifying a virtual path between said pair of said ingress/egress backbone network elements; and means for identifying a plurality of independent paths of said paths and a plurality of non-independent paths of said paths, wherein each of said non-independent paths can be defined as a combination of ones of said independent paths, and at least one of said independent paths includes at least one of said virtual paths. 83. The apparatus of claim 82, wherein said means for identifying said ones of said backbone network elements as said ingress/egress backbone network elements comprises:means for forming clusters, wherein each of said clusters includes at least one of said ingress/egress backbone network elements. 84. The apparatus of claim 82, wherein said combination is a linear combination.85. The apparatus of claim 82, wherein said each of said enterprise network elements is coupled to said at least one other of said enterprise network elements by one of a plurality of enterprise network links and said apparatus further comprises:means, for said each of said enterprise network element pairs, for defining a delay between a first enterprise network element and a second enterprise network element of said each of said enterprise network element pairs as comprising a delay associated with each enterprise network link and each virtual path in said path. 86. The apparatus of claim 82, wherein said means for identifying said ones of said backbone network elements as said ingress/egress backbone network elements comprises:means for aggregating at least one of said enterprise network elements and at least one of said backbone network elements into a cluster. 87. The apparatus of claim 86, further comprisingmeans for identifying each of said ingress/egress backbone network elements using a domain name of said each of said ingress/egress backbone network elements. 88. The apparatus of claim 87, wherein said identifying said ones of said backbone network elements as said ingress/egress backbone network elements further comprises:means, for each of said enterprise network elements coupled to at least one of said ingress/egress backbone network elements, for each of said at least one of said ingress/egress backbone network elements, for determining a domain name of said each of said at least one of said ingress/egress backbone network elements, for including said each of said at least one of said ingress/egress backbone network elements in an existing cluster in a set of clusters, wherein each cluster in said set of clusters is configured to be identified by a domain name, if said domain name of said each of said at least one of said ingress/egress backbone network elements is equivalent to a domain name corresponding to said existing cluster, and for creating a new cluster in said set of clusters and including said each of said at least one of said ingress/egress backbone network elements in said new cluster, otherwise. 89. The apparatus of claim 87, wherein said means for identifying said ones of said backbone network elements as ingress/egress backbone network elements further comprises:means for including said each of said enterprise network elements coupled to said at least one of said ingress/egress backbone network elements, if said domain name of said each of said at least one of said ingress/egress backbone network elements is equivalent to said domain name corresponding to said existing cluster, and means for including said each of said enterprise network elements coupled to at least one of said ingress/egress backbone network elements in said new cluster, otherwise. 90. The apparatus of claim 82, further comprising:means for measuring a measured network performance metric between a first enterprise network element and a second enterprise network element of one of said at least one of said independent paths; and means for computing a computed network performance metric between a first network element and a second network element of at least one of said non-independent enterprise network element pairs using said measured network performance metric. 91. The apparatus of claim 90, wherein each one of said independent paths has end-points defined by a first and a second enterprise network element that form an independent enterprise network element pair.92. The apparatus of claim 90, wherein each of said virtual paths is represented by a virtual link.93. The apparatus of claim 90, whereinsaid means for identifying, said enterprise network element pairs comprises means for identifying pairs of said enterprise network elements as being in a first set of enterprise network element pairs, and said means for identifying said independent paths and said non-independent paths comprises means for generating a first matrix from said first set of enterprise network element pairs, wherein each row in said first matrix corresponds to a corresponding enterprise network element pair in said first set of enterprise network element pairs, said first matrix comprises independent rows and non-independent rows, each of said independent rows corresponds to one of said independent paths, and each of said non-independent rows corresponds to one of said non-independent paths, and means for forming a second set of enterprise network element pairs, wherein said second set of enterprise network element pairs contains independent enterprise network element pairs in said first set of enterprise network element pairs, and each one of said independent pairs of enterprise network element corresponds to a one of said independent rows of said first matrix. 94. The apparatus of claim 93, wherein said means for measuring comprises:means for measuring said measured network performance metric between a first enterprise network element and a second enterprise network element of each enterprise network element pair in said second set of enterprise network element pairs. 95. The apparatus of claim 94, wherein said means for computing comprises:means for computing said computed network performance metric between a first enterprise network element and a second enterprise network element of a remaining enterprise network element pair in said first set of enterprise network element pairs using at least one of said measured network performance metrics, wherein said remaining enterprise network element pair corresponds to a non-independent row of said first matrix. 96. The apparatus of claim 95, wherein said means for computing said computed network performance metric between said first enterprise network element and said second enterprise network element of said remaining enterprise network element pair further comprises:means for forming a second matrix, wherein each row of said second matrix corresponds to a corresponding one of said non-independent rows of said first matrix, and said each row of said second matrix is such that said corresponding one of said non-independent rows of said first matrix can be expressed in terms of said independent rows using said each row of said second matrix; means for organizing said measured network performance metrics into a vector; and means for computing said computed network performance metric between said first enterprise network element and said second enterprise network element of said remaining enterprise network element pair by multiplying said vector by a row of said second matrix corresponding to said remaining enterprise network element pair. 97. The apparatus of claim 96, wherein said second matrix is a matrix A.98. The apparatus of claim 95, wherein said means for computing said computed network performance metric between said first enterprise network element and said second enterprise network element of said remaining enterprise network element pair comprises:means for creating a vector equivalent to said non-independent row of said first matrix by combining a plurality of said independent rows of said first matrix; and means for computing said computed network performance metric by combining a measured network performance metric of each enterprise network element pair of said second set of enterprise network element pairs corresponding to one of said plurality of said independent rows of said first matrix. 99. The apparatus of claim 98, wherein each one of said enterprise network elements is a router.100. The apparatus of claim 93, wherein said first set of enterprise network element pairs is a requirements set.101. The apparatus of claim 100, wherein said second set of enterprise network element pairs is a measurements set.102. The apparatus of claim 101, wherein each one of said enterprise network elements is a router.103. The apparatus of claim 93, wherein said first matrix is a matrix F.104. The apparatus of claim 93, further comprising:means for computing a number, wherein said number is equal to a rank of said first matrix; means for determining if a first said number of rows of said first matrix are independent; and means, if said first-said number of said rows of said first matrix are not independent, for re-arranging said rows of said first matrix such that said first said number of said rows of said first matrix are independent. 105. The apparatus of claim 104, further comprising:means for identifying a maximal set of independent rows of said first matrix based on said number. 106. The apparatus of claim 104, wherein said means for rearranging further comprises:means for re-arranging said pairs of said enterprise network elements in said first set of enterprise network element pairs such that said correspondence between each row of said first matrix and said corresponding enterprise network element pair in said first set of enterprise network element pairs is maintained. 107. The apparatus of claim 106, wherein said means for forming said second set of enterprise network element pairs comprises:means for copying a first said number of pairs of said enterprise network elements in said first set of enterprise network element pairs into said second set of enterprise network element pairs. 108. The apparatus of claim 82, wherein said backbone network elements have an architecture similar to said enterprise network elements.