Handling of malware scanning of files stored within a file storage device of a computer network
First Claim
1. A load balancing device for balancing the load across a plurality of proxy devices arranged to perform malware scanning of files stored within a file storage device of a computer network, the computer network having a plurality of client devices arranged to issue access requests using a dedicated file access protocol to the file storage device in order to access files stored on the file storage device, the load balancing device being arranged so as to intercept access requests issued to the file storage device, and comprising:
- a client interface for receiving an access request issued to the file storage device using the dedicated file access protocol;
load balancing logic for applying a predetermined load balancing routine to determine to which proxy device to direct that access request; and
a proxy device interface for sending the access request to the proxy device determined by the load balancing logic, each proxy device being coupled to the file storage device.
11 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a load balancing device, computer program product, and method for balancing the load across a plurality of proxy devices arranged to perform malware scanning of files stored within a file storage device of a computer network. The computer network has a plurality of client devices arranged to issue access requests using a dedicated file access protocol to the file storage device in order to access files stored on the file storage device. The load balancing device is arranged so as to intercept access requests issued to the file storage device, and comprises a client interface for receiving an access request issued to the file storage device using the dedicated file access protocol. Further, the load balancing device comprises load balancing logic for applying a predetermined load balancing routine to determine to which proxy device to direct the received access request, and a proxy device interface for sending the access request to the proxy device determined by the load balancing logic, each proxy device being coupled to the file storage device. This enables a very efficient system to be developed for performing malware scanning of files stored within the file storage device, whilst enabling that system to be developed independently of the particular file storage device being used in the computer network, or the operating system being run on that file storage device.
47 Citations
45 Claims
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1. A load balancing device for balancing the load across a plurality of proxy devices arranged to perform malware scanning of files stored within a file storage device of a computer network, the computer network having a plurality of client devices arranged to issue access requests using a dedicated file access protocol to the file storage device in order to access files stored on the file storage device, the load balancing device being arranged so as to intercept access requests issued to the file storage device, and comprising:
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a client interface for receiving an access request issued to the file storage device using the dedicated file access protocol;
load balancing logic for applying a predetermined load balancing routine to determine to which proxy device to direct that access request; and
a proxy device interface for sending the access request to the proxy device determined by the load balancing logic, each proxy device being coupled to the file storage device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of operating a load balancing device to balance the load across a plurality of proxy devices arranged to perform malware scanning of files stored within a file storage device of a computer network, the computer network having a plurality of client devices arranged to issue access requests using a dedicated file access protocol to the file storage device in order to access files stored on the file storage device, the load balancing device being arranged so as to intercept access requests issued to the file storage device, and the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving an access request issued to the file storage device using the dedicated file access protocol;
(b) applying a predetermined load balancing routine to determine to which proxy device to direct that access request; and
(c) sending the access request to the proxy device determined at said step (b), each proxy device being coupled to the file storage device. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A computer program product operable to configure a load balancing device to perform a method of balancing the load across a plurality of proxy devices arranged to perform malware scanning of files stored within a file storage device of a computer network, the computer network having a plurality of client devices arranged to issue access requests using a dedicated file access protocol to the file storage device in order to access files stored on the file storage device, the load balancing device being arranged so as to intercept access requests issued to the file storage device, and the computer program product comprising:
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(a) client interface code operable to receive an access request issued to the file storage device using the dedicated file access protocol;
(b) load balancing code operable to apply a predetermined load balancing routine to determine to which proxy device to direct that access request; and
(c) proxy device interface code operable to send the access request to the proxy device determined by the load balancing logic, each proxy device being coupled to the file storage device. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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Specification