What is Cisco Intelligent Path Control, PfR ?

PfR is part of Cisco IWAN. PfR monitors network performance and routes applications based on application performance policies and load balances traffic based upon link utilization levels to efficiently utilize all available WAN bandwidth. PfR is comprised of two major Cisco IOS components, a Master Controller (MC) and a Border Router (BR).

The Master Controller is a policy decision point at which policies are applied to various traffic classes that traverse the Border Router systems.

• The hub master controller is the master controller at the hub-site, which is either a data center or a head quarter. This is the device where all policies are configured. It also acts as master controller for that site and makes optimization decision.
• Branch Master Controller: The Branch Master Controller is the master controller at the branch-site. There is no policy configuration on this device. It receives policy from the Hub MC. This device acts as master controller for that site for making optimization decision.

Border Routers (BRs) are in the data forwarding path. Border Routers collect data from their Performance Monitor cache and smart probe results, provide a degree of aggregation of this information, and influence the packet forwarding path as directed by the Master Controller to manage user traffic.