Methods, systems and computer program products for bypassing routing stacks using mobile internet protocol

• US 20060155801A1
• Filed: 01/12/2005
• Published: 07/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Brabson, Roy F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,886,076 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/201
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/22 Alternate routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1038 Load balancing arrangements to avoid a single path through a load balancer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/563 Data redirection of data network streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/082 for traffic bypassing of mobility servers, e.g. location registers, home PLMNs or home agents
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]

Abstract

Methods, systems and computer program products for load balancing using Mobile Internet Protocol (IP) Version 6 are provided. A request for a connection is received from a client at a routing stack. A Mobile IP Version 6 Binding Update message is transmitted from the routing stack to the client responsive to the received request. The Binding Update message identifies a selected target stack so as to allow the client to communicate directly with the target stack bypassing the routing stack.

Claims

1. A method of load balancing using Mobile Internet Protocol (IP) Version 6, comprising:

receiving, from a client, a request for a connection at a routing stack; and

transmitting, from the routing stack, a Mobile IP Version 6 Binding Update message to the client responsive to the received request, the Binding Update message identifying a selected target stack so as to allow the client to communicate directly with the target stack, bypassing the routing stack.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the Binding Update message comprises a home address of the connection as an internet protocol address associated with the routing stack and a care-of address of the connection as an IP address associated with the target stack so as to allow the client to create a binding cache entry that maps the IP address associated with the routing stack to the IP address associated with the target stack.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the IP address associated with the routing stack comprises a virtual IP address (VIPA).

4. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting is preceded by:

transmitting, from the routing stack, the request for the connection to the selected target stack;

receiving, at the routing stack, notification from the target stack that the connection request has been accepted by the target stack; and

updating a routing table at the routing stack.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein updating comprises updating the routing table at the routing stack to indicate that the target stack has accepted the connection request responsive to the received notification.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein transmitting the Binding Update message is preceded by:

transmitting, from the routing stack, a Mobile IP Version 6 Home Test message init to the client, the Home Test message init including a request that the client return a Mobile IP Version 6 Home Test message to the routing stack;

receiving the Home Test message at the routing stack from the client responsive to the transmitted Home Test message init; and

transmitting, from the routing stack or the target stack, a Mobile IP Version 6 Care-of Test Init message to the client for the target stack, a source IP address of the Care-of Test Init message being set to the IP address of the target stack.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving, at the target stack, a Care-of Test message from the client responsive to the Care-of Test Init message, wherein the Care-of Test message includes a mobility header indicating that a copy of the Care-of Test message should be forwarded to the routing stack; and

transmitting, from the target stack, the copy of the Care-of Test message to the routing stack.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

establishing, at the client, the connection between the client, the routing stack and the target stack so as to allow direct communication between the client and the target stack; and

transmitting, from the client, to the routing stack an indication that the connection has been established.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving the transmitted indication at the routing stack; and

forwarding the transmitted indication to the target stack, wherein transmitting a Binding Update message comprises transmitting a Binding Update message to the client once both the Care-of Test message and the Home Test message have been received at the routing stack.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the Binding Update message comprises a first Binding Update message, the method further comprising:

receiving, from the routing stack, a second Binding Update message at the client, the second Binding Update message indicating that the established connection should be terminated; and

deleting the binding cache entry associated with the connection at the client responsive to second Binding Update message.

11. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

creating, at the client, the binding cache entry that maps the home address to the care-of address so as to allow direct communication between the client and the target stack; and

transmitting, from the client, a binding acknowledgment directly to the target stack bypassing the routing stack.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving, at the routing stack, a copy of the binding acknowledgment from the target stack; and

updating a routing table associated with the routing stack to include state information;

transmitting a binding information request to the target stack including the state information so as to allow the target stack to update a routing table associated with the target stack.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, at the routing stack, mobile IP version 6 messages from the target stack so as to allow the routing stack to maintain a routing table associated with the routing stack that is substantially similar to a routing table associated with the target stack.

14. The method of claim 2, wherein transmitting is preceded by enabling Mobile IP Version 6 optimizations on the VIPA.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is implemented using z/OS Version 1 Revision 6.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the routing stack, a notification of a new connection request at the target stack from the client; and

copying, at the routing stack, Binding Update message information associated with the connection from a routing table associated with the routing stack.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the Binding Update message comprises a first Binding Update message, the method further comprising:

receiving, at the routing stack, a notification of a new connection request at the client from the target stack;

determining, at the routing stack, if an entry for the new connection exists in the routing table;

copying Binding Update message information associated with the existing

connection from the routing table if it is determined that the entry exists; and

transmitting, from the routing stack, a second Binding Update message to the client if it is determined that the entry does not exist, the second Binding Update message identifying a second selected target stack for the new connection so as to allow the client to communicate directly with the second selected target stack bypassing the routing stack.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting, from the client, a binding refresh request to the target stack, the binding refresh request including a request to send another Binding Update message from the target stack.

19. The method of claim 2, wherein the Binding Update message comprises a first Binding Update message, the method further comprising:

detecting, at the routing stack, a problem with the target stack;

deleting the binding cache entry at the client responsive to the detected problem; and

transmitting, from the routing stack, a second Binding Update message to the client, the second Binding Update message indicating that the care-of address and the home address should both be set to the VIPA so as to allow direct communication between the client and the routing stack.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the Binding Update message comprises a first Binding Update message, the method further comprising transmitting a second Binding Update message, from the routing stack, to the client so as to allow deletion of the binding cache entry at the client.

21. A method of load balancing using Mobile Internet Protocol (IP) Version 6, comprising:

receiving, from a routing stack, a Mobile IP Version 6 Binding Update message at the client responsive to a request for a connection, the Binding Update message identifying a selected target stack so as to allow the client to communicate directly with the selected target stack bypassing the routing stack.

22. A method of load balancing using Mobile Internet Protocol (IP) Version 6, comprising:

receiving, at a selected target stack, a request for a connection to the selected target stack from a routing stack;

transmitting, from the selected target stack, a notification indicating that the connection request has been accepted by the target stack so as to allow a client to communicate directly with the selected target stack bypassing the routing stack.

23. A system for load balancing using Mobile Internet Protocol (IP) Version 6, comprising a routing stack configured to:

receive, from a client, a request for a connection; and

transmit a Mobile IP Version 6 Binding Update message to the client responsive to the received request, the Binding Update message identifying a selected target stack so as to allow the client to communicate directly with the target stack bypassing the routing stack.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the Binding Update message comprises a home address of the connection as an internet protocol address associated with the routing stack and a care-of address of the connection as an IP address associated with the target stack so as to allow the client to create a binding cache entry that maps the IP address associated with the routing stack to the IP address associated with the target stack.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the IP address associated with the routing stack comprises a virtual IP address (VIPA).

26. The system of claim 23, wherein the routing stack is further configured to:

transmit a Mobile IP Version 6 Home Test Init message to the client, the Home Test Init message including a request that the client return a Mobile IP Version 6 Home Test message to the routing stack;

receive the Home Test message at the routing stack from the client responsive to the transmitted Home Test Init message; and

transmit a Mobile IP Version 6 Care-of Test Init message to the client for the target stack, a source IP address of the Care-of Test Init message being set to the IP address of the target stack.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the target stack is further configured to receive the Care-of Test message from the client responsive to the Care-of Test Init message, the Care-of Test message including a mobility header indicating that a copy of the Care-of Test message should be forwarded to the routing stack and transmit the copy of the Care-of Test message to the routing stack.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the client is further configured to:

establish the connection between the client, the routing stack and the target stack so as to allow direct communication between the client and the target stack; and

transmit an indication that the connection has been established to the routing stack.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the routing stack is further configured to:

receive the transmitted indication at the routing stack;

forward the transmitted indication to the target stack; and

transmit the Binding Update message the client once both the Care-of Test message

and the Home Test message have been received at the routing stack.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the Binding Update message comprises

a first Binding Update message, wherein the client is further configured to:

receive a second Binding Update message from the routing stack, the second Binding Update message indicating that the established connection should be terminated; and

delete the binding cache entry associated with the connection at the client responsive to second Binding Update message.

31. The system of claim 24, wherein the client is further configured to:

create the binding cache entry that maps the home address to the care-of address so as to allow direct communication between the client and the target stack; and

transmit a binding acknowledgment directly to the target stack bypassing the routing stack.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the routing stack is further configured to:

receive a copy of the binding acknowledgment from the target stack; and

update a routing table associated with the routing stack to include state information; and

transmit a binding information request to the target stack including the state information so as to allow the target stack to update a routing table associated with the target stack.

33. The system of claim 23, wherein the routing stack is further configured to receive mobile IP version 6 messages from the target stack so as to allow the routing stack to maintain a routing table associated with the routing stack that is substantially similar to a routing table associated with the target stack.

34. The system of claim 24, wherein the Binding Update message comprises

a first Binding Update message, wherein the routing stack is further configured to:

detect a problem with the target stack;

delete the binding cache entry at the client responsive to the detected problem; and

transmit a second Binding Update message to the client, the second Binding Update message indicating that the care-of address and the home address should both be set to the VIPA so as to allow direct communication between the client and the routing stack.

35. A system for load balancing using Mobile Internet Protocol (IP) Version 6, comprising:

means for receiving, from a client, a request for a connection at a routing stack; and

means for transmitting, from the routing stack, a Mobile IP Version 6 Binding Update message to the client responsive to the received request, the Binding Update message identifying a selected target stack so as to allow the client to communicate directly with the target stack bypassing the routing stack.

36. A computer program product for load balancing using Mobile Internet Protocol (IP) Version 6, the computer program product comprising:

a computer readable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program product comprising;

computer readable program code configured to receive, from a client, a request for a connection at a routing stack; and

computer readable program code configured to transmit, from the routing stack, a Mobile IP Version 6 Binding Update message to the client responsive to the received request, the Binding Update message identifying a selected target stack so as to allow the client to communicate directly with the target stack bypassing the routing stack.

37. The computer program product of claim 36, wherein the Binding Update message comprises a home address of the connection as an internet protocol address associated with the routing stack and a care-of address of the connection as an IP address associated with the target stack so as to allow the client to create a binding cache entry that maps the IP address associated with the routing stack to the IP address associated with the target stack.

38. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein the IP address associated with the routing stack comprises a virtual IP address (VIPA).

39. The computer program product of claim 36, further comprising:

computer readable program code configured to transmit, from the routing stack, the request for the connection to the selected target stack;

computer readable program code configured to receive, at the routing stack, notification from the target stack that the connection request has been accepted by the target stack; and

computer readable program code configured to update a routing table at the routing stack.

40. The computer program product of claim 39, wherein the computer readable program code configured to update comprises computer readable program code configured to update the routing table at the routing stack to indicate that the target stack has accepted the connection request responsive to the received notification.

41. The computer program product of claim 39, further comprising:

computer readable program code configured to transmit, from the routing stack, a Mobile IP Version 6 Home Test Init message to the client, the Home Test Init message including a request that the client return a Mobile IP Version 6 Home Test message to the routing stack;

computer readable program code configured to receive the Home Test message at the routing stack from the client responsive to the transmitted Home Test Init message; and

computer readable program code configured to transmit, from the routing stack or the target stack, a Mobile IP Version 6 Care-of Test Init message to the client for the target stack, a source IP address of the Care-of Test Init message being set to the IP address of the target stack.

42. The computer program product of claim 41, further comprising:

computer readable program code configured to receive, at the target stack, the Care-of Test message from the client responsive to the care of init message, wherein the Care-of Test message includes a mobility header indicating that a copy of the Care-of Test message should be forwarded to the routing stack; and

computer readable program code configured to transmit, from the target stack, the copy of the Care-of Test message to the routing stack.

43. The computer program product of claim 42, further comprising:

computer readable program code configured to establish, at the client, the connection between the client, the routing stack and the target stack so as to allow direct communication between the client and the target stack; and

computer readable program code configured to transmit, from the client, to the routing stack an indication that the connection has been established.

44. The computer program product of claim 43, further comprising:

computer readable program code configured to receive the transmitted indication at the routing stack; and

computer readable program code configured to forward the transmitted indication to the target stack, wherein the computer readable program code configured to transmit a Binding Update message comprises computer readable program code configured to transmit a Binding Update message to the client once both the Care-of Test message and the Home Test message have been received at the routing stack.

45. The computer program product of claim 43, wherein the Binding Update message comprises a first Binding Update message, the computer program product further comprising:

computer readable program code configured to receive, from the routing stack, a second Binding Update message at the client, the second Binding Update message indicating that the established connection should be terminated; and

computer readable program code configured to delete the binding cache entry associated with the connection at the client responsive to second Binding Update message.

46. The computer program product of claim 37, further comprising:

computer readable program code configured to create, at the client, the binding cache entry that maps the home address to the care-of address so as to allow direct communication between the client and the target stack; and

computer readable program code configured to transmit, from the client, a binding acknowledgment directly to the target stack bypassing the routing stack.

47. The computer program product of claim 46, further comprising:

computer readable program code configured to receive, at the routing stack, a copy of the binding acknowledgment from the target stack;

computer readable program code configured to update a routing table associated with the routing stack to include state information; and

computer readable program code configured to transmit a binding information request to the target stack including the state information so as to allow the target stack to update a routing table associated with the target stack.

48. The computer program product of claim 36, further comprising computer readable program code configured to receive, at the routing stack, mobile IP version 6 messages from the target stack so as to allow the routing stack to maintain a routing table associated with the routing stack that is substantially similar to a routing table associated with the target stack.

49. The computer program product of claim 36, further comprising transmitting, from the client, a binding refresh request to the target stack, the binding refresh request including a request to send another Binding Update message from the target stack.

50. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein the Binding Update message comprises a first Binding Update message, the computer program product further comprising:

computer readable program code configured to detect, at the routing stack, a problem with the target stack;

computer readable program code configured to delete the binding cache entry at the client responsive to the detected problem; and

computer readable program code configured to transmit, from the routing stack, a second Binding Update message to the client, the second Binding Update message indicating that the care-of address and the home address should both be set to the VIPA so as to allow direct communication between the client and the routing stack.