The Path Search Cheat Sheet (🔽 attached below 🔽) is a powerful resource designed to help network engineers efficiently query and analyze complex network paths with the Forward Platform. Rather than detailing every possible function, this guide gives you the tools to resolve network issues and optimize performance. This reference is more than just a list of commands—it’s a blueprint for turning raw network data into actionable intelligence. Whether you’re troubleshooting an immediate problem or planning for future growth, this cheat sheet is your guide to making the most of Forward Networks’ powerful path search capabilities.

Driving Value with Path Search

By leveraging the cheat sheet, you can:

• Quickly Diagnose Issues: Identify traffic bottlenecks, policy enforcement problems, or unreachable destinations.
• Validate Configurations: Confirm that routing, firewall policies, and other configurations align with intended network behavior.
• Optimize Network Performance: Gain actionable insights into traffic flows, enabling better decision-making for performance tuning or capacity planning.

How to Use the Cheat Sheet

The cheat sheet provides a structured approach to network path queries, enabling you to:

1. Define the Scope of a Search: Use keywords to specify starting points, or paths through particular devices or interfaces. This flexibility allows users to narrow down search results to relevant traffic paths quickly.
2. Refine Queries with Filters: Apply filters like VLANs, IP prefixes, or MAC addresses to target specific traffic attributes. Advanced modifiers, such as logical networks or device groups, further streamline searches in large-scale environments.
3. Analyze Outcomes: Identify whether traffic is delivered, dropped, blackholed, or encounters other issues. This insight helps pinpoint bottlenecks, misconfigurations, or policy enforcement challenges.

Key Features for Advanced Use

1. Iterative Resolution: Automatically resolves ambiguous inputs like VRFs or IP prefixes to specific network components. When necessary, prompts guide users to refine their queries.
2. Logical Networks: Group devices or edge nodes to limit the query scope, simplifying analysis in complex setups.
3. Flexible Query Functions: Combine functions such as ingress, egress, or bypass to trace traffic flows with precision. These can be layered to explore how traffic navigates multi-layered architectures.
4. Advanced Traffic Attributes: Target specific behaviors with filters for Layer 2, Layer 3, or application-layer attributes, helping users uncover nuanced performance or policy-related issues.

Have additional path search questions? Ask below!