OVERPROVISIONING FLOATING IP ADDRESSES TO PROVIDE STATEFUL ECMP FOR TRAFFIC GROUPS

• US 20160191457A1
• Filed: 05/01/2015
• Published: 06/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: F5 Networks, Inc. (F5 Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: F5 Networks, Inc. (F5 Incorporated)
• Inventors: Torzillo, Antonio, Thomson, James Arthur, Szabo, Paul I., Baumann, William Ross
• Granted Patent: US 10,257,156 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/042 comprising distributed management centres cooperatively managing the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0654 using network fault recovery ring fault isolation or reconfiguration in loop networks without recovery actions by a network management system H04L12/437
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/74 Address processing for routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1023 based on a hash applied to IP addresses or costs
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1034 Reaction to server failures by a load balancer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/40 for recovering from a failure of a protocol instance or entity, e.g. service redundancy protocols, protocol state redundancy or protocol service redirection management of faults, events, alarms or notifications in data switching networks H04L41/06

Abstract

Embodiments are directed towards overprovisioning IP addresses among a plurality of traffic management devices (TMDs). A plurality of IP addresses may be distributed among a plurality of available TMDs. A corresponding mirror TMD may be determined for each IP address. The corresponding mirror TMD for an IP address may be different than the available TMD currently associated with the IP address. In various embodiments, connections associated with each IP address may be mirrored at their corresponding mirror TMDs. The available TMDs may be employed to perform traffic management tasks on received packets based on at least a destination IP address of the received packets and the IP addresses associated with the available TMDs. If a TMD becomes unavailable, the IP addresses associated with the unavailable TMD may be redistributed to at least one remaining available TMD.

Claims

1. A method for managing packet traffic in a network, comprising:

distributing a plurality of IP addresses to available traffic management devices (TMDs) in a plurality of TMDs, wherein an amount of the plurality of IP addresses is greater than another amount of the plurality of TMDs;

employing the available TMDs to perform traffic management on received packets based on at least a destination IP address of the received packets and each IP address distributed to the available TMDs; and

when a TMD is unavailable, redistributing to at least one available TMD the plurality of IP addresses previously distributed to the unavailable TMD.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of the plurality of IP addresses is a common multiple from 1 to a number based on the other amount of TMDs.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of IP addresses is determined based on a rounding error within a predetermined threshold.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining available TMDs as mirrors for other available TMDs that have one or more distributed IP addresses; and

for each mirror TMD, mirroring connections associated with each distributed IP address and each corresponding other TMD.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising, when more IP addresses are distributed to an available TMD than other available TMDs, load balancing connections corresponding to the more IP addresses to at least one other available TMD.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein each IP address has a corresponding media access control address that is assigned to the available TMD and reassign to a different available TMD when the available TMD is unavailable.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the distribution of the plurality of IP addresses includes the distribution of a plurality of traffic groups that each include a pair of IP addresses, such that when a TMD is unavailable, the plurality of traffic groups previously distributed to the unavailable TMD is redistributed to at least one available TMD.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

increasing a number of IP addresses in the plurality of IP addresses when a number of TMDs in the plurality of TMDs increases; and

decreasing the number of IP addresses in the plurality of IP addresses when the number of TMDs in the plurality of TMDs decreases.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

employing a DAG and mapping table to manage the plurality of IP address and their distribution, along with traffic flowing through the plurality of TMDs.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising distributing frames to the plurality of IP addresses based on ECMP.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising employing the plurality of IP addresses for a next hop route using ECMP based routing, wherein each of the plurality of IP addresses is used as a next hop IP address.

12. An apparatus for managing packet traffic in a network, comprising:

a memory for storing instructions; and

a processor that executes the instructions to perform actions, including;

distributing a plurality of IP addresses to available traffic management devices (TMDs) in a plurality of TMDs, wherein an amount of the plurality of IP addresses is greater than another amount of the plurality of TMDs;

employing the available TMDs to perform traffic management on received packets based on at least a destination IP address of the received packets and each IP address distributed to the available TMDs; and

when a TMD is unavailable, redistributing to at least one available TMD the plurality of IP addresses previously distributed to the unavailable TMD.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the amount of the plurality of IP addresses is a common multiple from 1 to a number based on the other amount of TMDs.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the amount of IP addresses is determined based on a rounding error within a predetermined threshold.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processor executes the instructions to perform further actions, comprising:

determining available TMDs as mirrors for other available TMDs that have one or more distributed IP addresses; and

for each mirror TMD, mirroring connections associated with each distributed IP address and each corresponding other TMD.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processor executes the instructions to perform further actions, comprising, when more IP addresses are distributed to an available TMD than other available TMDs, load balancing connections corresponding to the more IP addresses to at least one other available TMD.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein each IP address has a corresponding media access control address that is assigned to the available TMD and reassign to a different available TMD when the available TMD is unavailable.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the distribution of the plurality of IP addresses includes the distribution of a plurality of traffic groups that each include a pair of IP addresses, such that when a TMD is unavailable, the plurality of traffic groups previously distributed to the unavailable TMD is redistributed to at least one available TMD.

19. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processor executes the instructions to perform further actions, comprising:

increasing a number of IP addresses in the plurality of IP addresses when a number of TMDs in the plurality of TMDs increases; and

decreasing the number of IP addresses in the plurality of IP addresses when the number of TMDs in the plurality of TMDs decreases.

20. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processor executes the instructions to perform further actions, comprising:

employing a DAG and mapping table to manage the plurality of IP address and their distribution, along with traffic flowing through the plurality of TMDs.

21. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processor executes the instructions to perform further actions comprising distributing frames to the plurality of IP addresses based on ECMP.

22. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processor executes the instructions to perform further actions comprising employing the plurality of IP addresses for a next hop route using ECMP based routing, wherein each of the plurality of IP addresses is used as a next hop IP address.

23. A computer-readable storage media that includes instructions for managing packet traffic in a network, wherein the execution of the instructions by a processor enables actions, comprising:

distributing a plurality of IP addresses to available traffic management devices (TMDs) in a plurality of TMDs, wherein an amount of the plurality of IP addresses is greater than another amount of the plurality of TMDs;

employing the available TMDs to perform traffic management on received packets based on at least a destination IP address of the received packets and each IP address distributed to the available TMDs; and

when a TMD is unavailable, redistributing to at least one available TMD the plurality of IP addresses previously distributed to the unavailable TMD.

24. The computer-readable storage media of claim 23, wherein the amount of the plurality of IP addresses is a common multiple from 1 to a number based on the other amount of TMDs.

25. The computer-readable storage media of claim 23, wherein the amount of IP addresses is determined based on a rounding error within a predetermined threshold.

26. The computer-readable storage media of claim 23, further comprising:

determining available TMDs as mirrors for other available TMDs that have one or more distributed IP addresses; and

for each mirror TMD, mirroring connections associated with each distributed IP address and each corresponding other TMD.

27. The computer-readable storage media of claim 23, further comprising, when more IP addresses are distributed to an available TMD than other available TMDs, load balancing connections corresponding to the more IP addresses to at least one other available TMD.

28. The computer-readable storage media of claim 23, wherein each IP address has a corresponding media access control address that is assigned to the available TMD and reassign to a different available TMD when the available TMD is unavailable.

29. The computer-readable storage media of claim 23, wherein the distribution of the plurality of IP addresses includes the distribution of a plurality of traffic groups that each include a pair of IP addresses, such that when a TMD is unavailable, the plurality of traffic groups previously distributed to the unavailable TMD is redistributed to at least one available TMD.

30. The computer-readable storage media of claim 23, further comprising:

increasing a number of IP addresses in the plurality of IP addresses when a number of TMDs in the plurality of TMDs increases; and

decreasing the number of IP addresses in the plurality of IP addresses when the number of TMDs in the plurality of TMDs decreases.

31. The computer-readable storage media of claim 23, further comprising:

employing a DAG and mapping table to manage the plurality of IP address and their distribution, along with traffic flowing through the plurality of TMDs.

32. The computer-readable storage media of claim 23, further comprising distributing frames to the plurality of IP addresses based on ECMP.

33. The computer-readable storage media of claim 23, further comprising employing the plurality of IP addresses for a next hop route using ECMP based routing, wherein each of the plurality of IP addresses is used as a next hop IP address.

34. A system for managing packet traffic in a network, comprising:

at least one network device that includes;

a memory for storing instructions;

a processor that executes the instructions to enable actions, comprising;

distributing a plurality of IP addresses to available traffic management devices (TMDs) in a plurality of TMDs, wherein an amount of the plurality of IP addresses is greater than another amount of the plurality of TMDs;

employing the available TMDs to perform traffic management on received packets based on at least a destination IP address of the received packets and each IP address distributed to the available TMDs; and

when a TMD is unavailable, redistributing to at least one available TMD the plurality of IP addresses previously distributed to the unavailable TMD.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the amount of the plurality of IP addresses is a common multiple from 1 to a number based on the other amount of TMDs.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein the amount of IP addresses is determined based on a rounding error within a predetermined threshold.

37. The system of claim 34, wherein the processor executes the instructions to perform further actions, comprising:

determining available TMDs as mirrors for other available TMDs that have one or more distributed IP addresses; and

for each mirror TMD, mirroring connections associated with each distributed IP address and each corresponding other TMD.

38. The system of claim 34, wherein the processor executes the instructions to perform further actions, comprising, when more IP addresses are distributed to an available TMD than other available TMDs, load balancing connections corresponding to the more IP addresses to at least one other available TMD.

39. The system of claim 34, wherein each IP address has a corresponding media access control address that is assigned to the available TMD and reassign to a different available TMD when the available TMD is unavailable.

40. The system of claim 34, wherein the distribution of the plurality of IP addresses includes the distribution of a plurality of traffic groups that each include a pair of IP addresses, such that when a TMD is unavailable, the plurality of traffic groups previously distributed to the unavailable TMD is redistributed to at least one available TMD.

41. The system of claim 34, wherein the processor executes the instructions to perform further actions, comprising:

increasing a number of IP addresses in the plurality of IP addresses when a number of TMDs in the plurality of TMDs increases; and

decreasing the number of IP addresses in the plurality of IP addresses when the number of TMDs in the plurality of TMDs decreases.

42. The system of claim 34, wherein the processor executes the instructions to perform further actions, comprising:

employing a DAG and mapping table to manage the plurality of IP address and their distribution, along with traffic flowing through the plurality of TMDs.

43. The system of claim 34, further comprising distributing frames to the plurality of IP addresses based on ECMP.

44. The system of claim 34, further comprising employing the plurality of IP addresses for a next hop route using ECMP based routing, wherein each of the plurality of IP addresses is used as a next hop IP address.