System and method for routing directory service operations in a directory service network

• US 20070106815A1
• Filed: 11/09/2005
• Published: 05/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CA, Inc. (d/b/a CA Technologies) (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Computer Associates Think Inc. (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Harvey, Richard, Ramsay, Ronald
• Granted Patent: US 8,478,898 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/238
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4552 Lookup mechanisms between a plurality of directories; Synchronisation of directories, e.g. metadirectories
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1008 based on parameters of servers, e.g. available memory or workload monitoring of computer activity G06F11/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1017 based on a round robin mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1019 Random or heuristic server selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1023 based on a hash applied to IP addresses or costs
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes

Abstract

A system and method are provided for routing directory service operations in a directory service network. A router may be included in a directory service network. The router may include a server knowledge list that maintains information about one or more directory servers in the directory service network. Directory service operations may be received by the router and may be routed to an appropriate directory server based on availability one or more of the directory servers.

Claims

1. A method of routing directory service operations in a directory service network comprising a plurality of directory servers, wherein at least one of the plurality of directory servers includes a non-persistent storage mechanism, the method comprising:

receiving a directory service operation;

determining one or more of the plurality of directory servers that are available to process the directory service operation;

selecting one of the one or more available directory servers, based at least in part on the determination of availability; and

routing the directory service operation to the selected directory server.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the one or more directory servers that are available comprises:

consulting a directory server knowledge list identifying the plurality of directory servers and a status associated with each of the plurality of directory servers.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the one or more directory servers that are available comprises:

consulting a directory server knowledge list identifying the plurality of directory servers; and

polling each of the plurality of directory servers to determine its availability.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the one or more directory servers that are available comprises:

determining which of the plurality of directory servers stores data identified in the directory service operation based, at least in part, on a unique attribute identified in the directory service operation.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the unique attribute is a distinguished name.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining one or more of the plurality of directory servers that are available further comprises determining one or more of the following:

whether the directory server is offline, whether the directory server has failed, whether the directory server is recovering, whether the directory server is busy, whether the directory server has been designated not to service, or whether the directory server has been marked unavailable.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining one or more of the plurality of directory servers that are available further comprises determining whether the directory server is configured to service the type of operation.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein routing the directory service operation is based on the determination of availability and one or more of the following routing techniques:

round robin, least busy, multicast, random, and preferred.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein routing the directory service operation is based on the availability and one or more of:

the type of directory service operation, the complexity of the directory service operation, and the security.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving indication that one or the plurality of directory servers has been disconnected; and

marking the identified directory server unavailable in a directory server knowledge list.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein marking the directory server unavailable includes marking the time in which the server disconnection indication was received.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

sending a connection request to the identified directory server after a predefined time interval.

13. A directory service network adapted to route a plurality of directory service operations to one or more directory servers in the directory service network, wherein at least one or the directory servers includes a non-persistent storage mechanism, the directory service network comprising:

a router configured to receive the plurality of directory service operations, wherein the router comprises;

a directory server knowledge module configured to maintain information about the one or more directory servers;

an evaluation module configured to determine one or more of the plurality of directory servers that are available to process the directory service operation; and

a routing module configured to route the directory service operation to at least one of the plurality of directory servers based, at least in part, on availability.

14. A router configured to receive a plurality of directory service operations and to forward the plurality of directory service operations to one or more of a plurality of directory servers in a directory service network, wherein at least one of the directory servers includes a non-persistent storage mechanism, the router comprising:

a directory server knowledge module configured to maintain information about the one or more directory servers;

an evaluation module configured to determine one or more of the plurality of directory servers that are available to process the directory service operation; and

a routing module configured to route the directory service operation to at least one of the plurality of directory servers based, at least in part, on availability.