Method for integrated load balancing among peer servers
First Claim
1. Apparatus for balancing network traffic among a group of servers, comprising:
- a plurality of load balancing modules, one coupled to each server and each having at least two network ports, and an internal network of network segments connecting at least one network port of each load balancing module to a network port of at least one other load balancing module in said plurality of load balancing modules, and coupling every load balancing module, directly or through one or more load balancing modules, to each of the other load balancing modules, at least one of said load balancing modules having a network port coupled to an external network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for balancing network loads among a group of computer servers. A load balancing module is provided for each server and includes multiple network ports for receiving network traffic and coupling messages to its server or to another module. The interconnect map for the modules is automatically determined by a topology discovery system and maintained by a topology update system. Each module monitors the loading and health of its server and provides this information to the other modules. One or more master modules are directly connected to an external network and route received traffic to their own servers and other servers through other modules or a networking switch based on a priority system. The priority system may be based on dynamic conditions of server capacities and current loading.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. Apparatus for balancing network traffic among a group of servers, comprising:
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a plurality of load balancing modules, one coupled to each server and each having at least two network ports, and an internal network of network segments connecting at least one network port of each load balancing module to a network port of at least one other load balancing module in said plurality of load balancing modules, and coupling every load balancing module, directly or through one or more load balancing modules, to each of the other load balancing modules, at least one of said load balancing modules having a network port coupled to an external network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for balancing network loads directed to a group of servers, comprising:
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using a group of load balancing modules, each coupled to one server in said group of servers and through an internal network to each of the other load balancing modules, to couple external network messages to each server, and using a first of said load balancing modules to receive an external network message and route the message through said internal network to a server selected according to a priority system. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A system for load balancing network loads among a group of servers, comprising:
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a group of load balancing module means, one coupled to each server in the group of servers, for receiving an external network message and coupling the message to the server to which it is coupled or to another load balancing module means in accordance with a priority system, and priority means for selecting a server which is to receive the next external network message. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39)
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Specification