Source routing
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In computer networking, source routing allows a sender of a packet to specify the route the packet takes through the network.
With source routing the entire path to the destination is known to the sender and is included when sending data. Source routing differs from most other routing in that the source makes most or all of the routing decisions for each router along the way.
Source routing allows easier troubleshooting, improved traceroute, and enables a node to discover all the possible routes to a host. It also allows a source to directly manage network performance by forcing packets to travel over one path to prevent congestion on another.
In the Internet Protocol, two header options are available which is rarely used. "Strict source and record route" (SSRR) and "loose source and record route" (LSRR). Due to security concerns, packets marked LSRR are frequently blocked on the Internet. If not blocked, LSRR can allow an attacker to spoof its address but still successfully receive response packets.[1]
