handle picking multiple destinations in scheduling layer

cmd/epp/runner/runner.go

@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ func (r *Runner) initializeScheduler() (*scheduling.Scheduler, error) {
 		schedulerProfile := framework.NewSchedulerProfile().
 			WithScorers(framework.NewWeightedScorer(scorer.NewQueueScorer(), queueScorerWeight),
 				framework.NewWeightedScorer(scorer.NewKVCacheScorer(), kvCacheScorerWeight)).
-			WithPicker(picker.NewMaxScorePicker())
+			WithPicker(picker.NewMaxScorePicker(picker.DefaultMaxNumOfEndpoints))
 
 		if prefixCacheScheduling {
 			prefixScorerWeight := envutil.GetEnvInt("PREFIX_CACHE_SCORE_WEIGHT", prefix.DefaultScorerWeight, setupLog)

conformance/testing-epp/scheduler.go

@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ import (
 func NewReqHeaderBasedScheduler() *scheduling.Scheduler {
 	predicatableSchedulerProfile := framework.NewSchedulerProfile().
 		WithFilters(filter.NewHeaderBasedTestingFilter()).
-		WithPicker(picker.NewMaxScorePicker())
+		WithPicker(picker.NewMaxScorePicker(picker.DefaultMaxNumOfEndpoints))
 
 	return scheduling.NewSchedulerWithConfig(scheduling.NewSchedulerConfig(
 		profile.NewSingleProfileHandler(), map[string]*framework.SchedulerProfile{"req-header-based-profile": predicatableSchedulerProfile}))

conformance/testing-epp/scheduler_test.go

@@ -82,11 +82,13 @@ func TestSchedule(t *testing.T) {
 			wantRes: &types.SchedulingResult{
 				ProfileResults: map[string]*types.ProfileRunResult{
 					"req-header-based-profile": {
-						TargetPod: &types.ScoredPod{
-							Pod: &types.PodMetrics{
-								Pod: &backend.Pod{
-									Address: "matched-endpoint",
-									Labels:  map[string]string{},
+						TargetPods: []types.Pod{
+							&types.ScoredPod{
+								Pod: &types.PodMetrics{
+									Pod: &backend.Pod{
+										Address: "matched-endpoint",
+										Labels:  map[string]string{},
+									},
 								},
 							},
 						},

pkg/epp/requestcontrol/director.go

@@ -238,7 +238,8 @@ func (d *Director) prepareRequest(ctx context.Context, reqCtx *handlers.RequestC
 		return reqCtx, errutil.Error{Code: errutil.Internal, Msg: "results must be greater than zero"}
 	}
 	// primary profile is used to set destination
-	targetPod := result.ProfileResults[result.PrimaryProfileName].TargetPod.GetPod()
+	// TODO should use multiple destinations according to epp protocol. current code assumes a single target
+	targetPod := result.ProfileResults[result.PrimaryProfileName].TargetPods[0].GetPod()
 
 	pool, err := d.datastore.PoolGet()
 	if err != nil {

pkg/epp/requestcontrol/director_test.go

@@ -131,11 +131,13 @@ func TestDirector_HandleRequest(t *testing.T) {
 	defaultSuccessfulScheduleResults := &schedulingtypes.SchedulingResult{
 		ProfileResults: map[string]*schedulingtypes.ProfileRunResult{
 			"testProfile": {
-				TargetPod: &schedulingtypes.ScoredPod{
-					Pod: &schedulingtypes.PodMetrics{
-						Pod: &backend.Pod{
-							Address:        "192.168.1.100",
-							NamespacedName: k8stypes.NamespacedName{Name: "pod1", Namespace: "default"},
+				TargetPods: []schedulingtypes.Pod{
+					&schedulingtypes.ScoredPod{
+						Pod: &schedulingtypes.PodMetrics{
+							Pod: &backend.Pod{
+								Address:        "192.168.1.100",
+								NamespacedName: k8stypes.NamespacedName{Name: "pod1", Namespace: "default"},
+							},
 						},
 					},
 				},

pkg/epp/scheduling/framework/plugins/multi/prefix/plugin.go

@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ func (m *Plugin) Score(ctx context.Context, cycleState *types.CycleState, reques
 
 // PostCycle records in the plugin cache the result of the scheduling selection.
 func (m *Plugin) PostCycle(ctx context.Context, cycleState *types.CycleState, res *types.ProfileRunResult) {
-	targetPod := res.TargetPod.GetPod()
+	targetPod := res.TargetPods[0].GetPod()
 	state, err := types.ReadCycleStateKey[*SchedulingContextState](cycleState, PrefixCachePluginType)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.FromContext(ctx).Error(err, "failed to read prefix plugin cycle state")

pkg/epp/scheduling/framework/plugins/multi/prefix/plugin_test.go

@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ func TestPrefixPlugin(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, float64(0), scores[pod2], "score for pod2")
 
 	// Simulate pod1 was picked.
-	plugin.PostCycle(context.Background(), cycleState1, &types.ProfileRunResult{TargetPod: pod1})
+	plugin.PostCycle(context.Background(), cycleState1, &types.ProfileRunResult{TargetPods: []types.Pod{pod1}})
 
 	// Second request doesn't share any prefix with first one. It should be added to the cache but
 	// the pod score should be 0.
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ func TestPrefixPlugin(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, float64(0), scores[pod2], "score for pod2")
 
 	// Simulate pod2 was picked.
-	plugin.PostCycle(context.Background(), cycleState2, &types.ProfileRunResult{TargetPod: pod2})
+	plugin.PostCycle(context.Background(), cycleState2, &types.ProfileRunResult{TargetPods: []types.Pod{pod2}})
 
 	// Third request shares partial prefix with first one.
 	req3 := &types.LLMRequest{
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ func TestPrefixPlugin(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, float64(2)/float64(3), scores[pod1], "score should be 2/3 - the model and the first prefix block match")
 	assert.Equal(t, float64(0), scores[pod2], "score for pod2")
 
-	plugin.PostCycle(context.Background(), cycleState3, &types.ProfileRunResult{TargetPod: pod1})
+	plugin.PostCycle(context.Background(), cycleState3, &types.ProfileRunResult{TargetPods: []types.Pod{pod1}})
 
 	// 4th request is same as req3 except the model is different, still no match.
 	req4 := &types.LLMRequest{
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ func TestPrefixPlugin(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, float64(0), scores[pod1], "score for pod1")
 	assert.Equal(t, float64(0), scores[pod2], "score for pod2")
 
-	plugin.PostCycle(context.Background(), cycleState4, &types.ProfileRunResult{TargetPod: pod1})
+	plugin.PostCycle(context.Background(), cycleState4, &types.ProfileRunResult{TargetPods: []types.Pod{pod1}})
 
 	// 5th request shares partial prefix with 3rd one.
 	req5 := &types.LLMRequest{
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ func TestPrefixPlugin(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, 0.75, scores[pod1], "score should be 0.75 - the model and the first 2 prefix blocks match")
 	assert.Equal(t, float64(0), scores[pod2], "score for pod2")
 
-	plugin.PostCycle(context.Background(), cycleState5, &types.ProfileRunResult{TargetPod: pod1})
+	plugin.PostCycle(context.Background(), cycleState5, &types.ProfileRunResult{TargetPods: []types.Pod{pod1}})
 }
 
 // TestPrefixPluginStress is a stress test for the prefix scoring plugin, using prompts of increasing length.
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ func BenchmarkPrefixPluginStress(b *testing.B) {
 		// First cycle: simulate scheduling and insert prefix info into the cache
 		cycleState := types.NewCycleState()
 		plugin.Score(context.Background(), cycleState, req, pods)
-		plugin.PostCycle(context.Background(), cycleState, &types.ProfileRunResult{TargetPod: pod})
+		plugin.PostCycle(context.Background(), cycleState, &types.ProfileRunResult{TargetPods: []types.Pod{pod}})
 
 		// Second cycle: validate internal state
 		state, err := types.ReadCycleStateKey[*SchedulingContextState](cycleState, PrefixCachePluginType)

pkg/epp/scheduling/framework/plugins/picker/common.go

@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+/*
+Copyright 2025 The Kubernetes Authors.
+
+Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+You may obtain a copy of the License at
+
+    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+limitations under the License.
+*/
+
+package picker
+
+const (
+	DefaultMaxNumOfEndpoints = 1 // common default to all pickers
+)
+
+// pickerParameters defines the common parameters for all pickers
+type pickerParameters struct {
+	MaxNumOfEndpoints int `json:"maxNumOfEndpoints"`
+}

pkg/epp/scheduling/framework/plugins/picker/max_score_picker.go

@@ -20,8 +20,10 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
+	"slices"
 
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/log"
+
 	"sigs.k8s.io/gateway-api-inference-extension/pkg/epp/plugins"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/gateway-api-inference-extension/pkg/epp/scheduling/framework"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/gateway-api-inference-extension/pkg/epp/scheduling/types"
@@ -36,53 +38,71 @@ const (
 var _ framework.Picker = &MaxScorePicker{}
 
 // MaxScorePickerFactory defines the factory function for MaxScorePicker.
-func MaxScorePickerFactory(name string, _ json.RawMessage, _ plugins.Handle) (plugins.Plugin, error) {
-	return NewMaxScorePicker().WithName(name), nil
+func MaxScorePickerFactory(name string, rawParameters json.RawMessage, _ plugins.Handle) (plugins.Plugin, error) {
+	parameters := pickerParameters{MaxNumOfEndpoints: DefaultMaxNumOfEndpoints}
+	if rawParameters != nil {
+		if err := json.Unmarshal(rawParameters, &parameters); err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to parse the parameters of the '%s' picker - %w", MaxScorePickerType, err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	return NewMaxScorePicker(parameters.MaxNumOfEndpoints).WithName(name), nil
 }
 
 // NewMaxScorePicker initializes a new MaxScorePicker and returns its pointer.
-func NewMaxScorePicker() *MaxScorePicker {
+func NewMaxScorePicker(maxNumOfEndpoints int) *MaxScorePicker {
+	if maxNumOfEndpoints <= 0 {
+		maxNumOfEndpoints = DefaultMaxNumOfEndpoints // on invalid configuration value, fallback to default value
+	}
+
 	return &MaxScorePicker{
-		tn:     plugins.TypedName{Type: MaxScorePickerType, Name: MaxScorePickerType},
-		random: NewRandomPicker(),
+		typedName:         plugins.TypedName{Type: MaxScorePickerType, Name: MaxScorePickerType},
+		maxNumOfEndpoints: maxNumOfEndpoints,
 	}
 }
 
-// MaxScorePicker picks the pod with the maximum score from the list of candidates.
+// MaxScorePicker picks pod(s) with the maximum score from the list of candidates.
 type MaxScorePicker struct {
-	tn     plugins.TypedName
-	random *RandomPicker
-}
-
-// TypedName returns the type and name tuple of this plugin instance.
-func (p *MaxScorePicker) TypedName() plugins.TypedName {
-	return p.tn
+	typedName         plugins.TypedName
+	maxNumOfEndpoints int // maximum number of endpoints to pick
 }
 
 // WithName sets the picker's name
 func (p *MaxScorePicker) WithName(name string) *MaxScorePicker {
-	p.tn.Name = name
+	p.typedName.Name = name
 	return p
 }
 
+// TypedName returns the type and name tuple of this plugin instance.
+func (p *MaxScorePicker) TypedName() plugins.TypedName {
+	return p.typedName
+}
+
 // Pick selects the pod with the maximum score from the list of candidates.
 func (p *MaxScorePicker) Pick(ctx context.Context, cycleState *types.CycleState, scoredPods []*types.ScoredPod) *types.ProfileRunResult {
-	log.FromContext(ctx).V(logutil.DEBUG).Info(fmt.Sprintf("Selecting a pod with the max score from %d candidates: %+v", len(scoredPods), scoredPods))
-
-	highestScorePods := []*types.ScoredPod{}
-	maxScore := -1.0 // pods min score is 0, putting value lower than 0 in order to find at least one pod as highest
-	for _, pod := range scoredPods {
-		if pod.Score > maxScore {
-			maxScore = pod.Score
-			highestScorePods = []*types.ScoredPod{pod}
-		} else if pod.Score == maxScore {
-			highestScorePods = append(highestScorePods, pod)
+	log.FromContext(ctx).V(logutil.DEBUG).Info(fmt.Sprintf("Selecting maximum '%d' pods from %d candidates sorted by max score: %+v", p.maxNumOfEndpoints,
+		len(scoredPods), scoredPods))
+
+	slices.SortStableFunc(scoredPods, func(i, j *types.ScoredPod) int { // highest score first
+		if i.Score > j.Score {
+			return -1
+		}
+		if i.Score < j.Score {
+			return 1
 		}
+		return 0
+	})
+
+	// if we have enough pods to return keep only the "maxNumOfEndpoints" highest scored pods
+	if p.maxNumOfEndpoints < len(scoredPods) {
+		scoredPods = scoredPods[:p.maxNumOfEndpoints]
 	}
 
-	if len(highestScorePods) > 1 {
-		return p.random.Pick(ctx, cycleState, highestScorePods) // pick randomly from the highest score pods
+	targetPods := make([]types.Pod, len(scoredPods))
+	for i, scoredPod := range scoredPods {
+		targetPods[i] = scoredPod
 	}
 
-	return &types.ProfileRunResult{TargetPod: highestScorePods[0]}
+	return &types.ProfileRunResult{TargetPods: targetPods}
+
 }