Methods, apparatuses and systems allowing for dynamic detection of network
devices, located along communications paths associated with a computer network,
that include compatible transformation tunneling capabilities. In one embodiment,
a tunnel probing device, having transformation tunneling capabilities, monitors
data flows to respective destination hosts and probes for other network devices,
having compatible transformation tunneling capabilities, located along respective
communications paths to the destination hosts. A network device in a communications
path, recognizing probes transmitted by the tunnel probing device, responds to
the probe by communicating its transformation tunneling capabilities, and passes
the probe along the path to the destination host for possible recognition by other
compatible network devices. The present invention allows for recognition and optimization
of network traffic between network devices without prior configuration.