Server blade for performing load balancing functions

• US 7,032,037 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2002
• Issued: 04/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Hendel, Ariel, Heffernan, Peter, Mayhead, Martin P., King, James E., Garnett, Paul J., Giles, Thomas E., Hejza, Leo A.
• Primary Examiner(s): SHIN, CHRISTOPHER B
• Application Number:
  US10/215,667
• Publication Number:
  US 20030105903A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,348 Days
• Field of Search: 709223-226, 709/203, 709/239, 714/752, 370396-412, 370422-424, 345/179, 715/501.1, 710/2, 710/8, 710/38, 710305-316
• US Class Current: 710/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/183 Internal mounting support structures, e.g. for printed circuit boards, internal connecting means for buses G06F13/409
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/187 Mounting of fixed and removable disk drives
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/55 Detecting local intrusion or implementing counter-measures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/629 to features or functions of an application
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2119 Authenticating web pages, e.g. with suspicious links
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2137 Time limited access, e.g. to a computer or data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2141 Access rights, e.g. capability lists, access control lists, access tables, access matrices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/128 of the plurality of recording/reproducing devices, e.g. disk drives, onto a chassis
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1416 Event detection, e.g. attack signature detection
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1425 of standardised dimensions, e.g. 19"-subrack
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1489 characterized by the mounting of blades therein, e.g. brackets, rails, trays H05K7/1491 takes precedence

Abstract

A modular computer system may be provided. The modular computer system may comprise a carrier operable removably to receive a plurality of computer system modules therein. A plurality of information processing modules can be removably received in the carrier, each module may have a communications port operable to connect to a communications network internal to the carrier. The modular computer system may also comprise a switch operable to connect to the internal communications network to distribute information messages between the modules and to connect to an external communications network. An information distribution module may be provided removably received in the carrier operable connect to the internal communications network to receive an information message, to perform processing on the message to determine a destination, and to forward the message toward the determined destination via the internal communications network.

Claims

1. A modular computer system comprising:

a carrier operable removably to receive a plurality of computer system modules therein;

a plurality of information processing modules removably received in the carrier, each module including a communications port operable to connect to a communications network internal to the carrier;

a switch operable to connect to the internal communications network to distribute information messages between the modules and to connect to an external communications network; and

an information distribution module removably received in the carrier, wherein the information distribution module includes;

at least one communications port coupled to the internal communications network and configured to receive an information message;

a processing unit configured to compare the received information message to a predetermined set of possible destinations to determine a destination, wherein the communications port is further configured to transmit the received information message to the determined destination;

a control processor coupled to the processing unit, wherein the control processor is configured to control an operation of the processing unit; and

a blade service controller coupled to the control processor, wherein the blade service controller is configured to provide system management functions for the information distribution module.

2. The modular computer system of claim 1, wherein each module comprises an enclosure.

3. The modular computer system of claim 1, further comprising a connections member received within the carrier operable to provide a connection between each module and the switch.

4. The modular computer system of claim 1, wherein the information distribution module is operable to compare a field of the information message comprising data corresponding to at least one selected network layer to the predetermined set of possible destinations.

5. The modular computer system of claim 4, wherein the at least one selected network layer includes the transport layer.

6. The modular computer system of claim 4, wherein the at least one selected network layer includes the application layer.

7. The modular computer system of claim 1, wherein the information distribution module is operable to communicate via the internal communications network using one of an Ethernet protocol and an Infiniband protocol.

8. The modular computer system of claim 1, wherein the internal communications network is a fixed topology network.

9. The modular computer system of claim 1, wherein the information distribution module is operable to communicate with the switch to indicate a group of information messages to be forwarded to the information distribution module upon receipt thereof by the switch.

10. The modular computer system of claim 1, further comprising a service processor operable to monitor each information processing module and to inform the information distribution module of an error detected by said monitoring.

11. The modular computer system of claim 10, wherein the service processor is further operable to monitor the information distribution module and to inform a higher management processor remote the carrier of an error detected by said monitoring.

12. The modular computer system of claim 11, wherein at least two information distribution modules are provided and wherein each module is operable to perform the functions of the other module upon receipt of a signal from the service processor to indicate an error of the other module detected by said monitoring.

14. The modular computer system of claim 1, wherein the information distribution module is configured as a server blade, wherein the server blade is configured as a field replaceable unit.

15. The modular computer system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is operable to select a destination on the basis of a round robin procedure.

16. The modular computer system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is operable to select a destination on the basis of a weighted round robin procedure.

17. The modular computer system of claim 16, wherein the weights are determined by at least one of equal weighting, server load monitoring and response time assessment.

18. The modular computer system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is operable to select a destination on the basis of an HTTP load balancing procedure.

19. The modular computer system of claim 18, wherein the HTTP load balancing procedure includes at least one of URL match, Cookie match and CGI match load balancing.

20. The modular computer system of claim 1, further comprising at least one information communication interface operable to communicate with the internal communication network.

21. The modular computer system of claim 20, further comprising two information communication interfaces.

22. The modular computer system of claim 20, wherein the information communication interface is selected from one of an Ethernet interface and an Infiniband interface.

23. The modular computer system of claim 20, wherein the communications port is operable to receive the information message via the communications interface.

24. The modular computer system of claim 20, wherein the communications port is operable to transmit the information message via the communications interface.

25. The modular computer system of claim 1, wherein the information distribution module is configured to be hot-swappable.

26. The modular computer system of claim 1, wherein at least a first and a second information distribution module are provided in the carrier, wherein the information distribution modules are redundant devices, wherein the first information distribution module is configured to perform load balancing functions, wherein in response to an error being detected in the first information distribution module the second information distribution module is configured to perform the load balancing functions.

27. The modular computer system of claim 1, wherein at least a first and a second information distribution module are provided in the carrier, wherein the first information distribution module is configured to perform load balancing functions with respect to a portion of the plurality of information processing modules removably received in the carrier and the second information distribution module is configured to perform load balancing functions with respect to a remaining portion of the plurality of information processing modules.

28. The modular computer system of claim 1, wherein at least a first and a second information distribution module are provided in the carrier, wherein the first information distribution module is configured to perform a portion of a plurality of load balancing functions with respect to the plurality of information processing modules removably received in the carrier and the second information distribution module is configured to perform a remaining portion of the plurality of load balancing functions with respect to the plurality of information processing modules.

29. The modular computer system of claim 1, wherein the information distribution module is operable to receive the information messages from the external communications network via the switch, wherein the information distribution module is configured to perform load balancing functions with respect to the plurality of information processing modules in the modular computer system.

30. The modular computer system of claim 1, wherein the information distribution module further comprises:

a classification engine coupled to the processing unit and the blade service controller, wherein the classification engine and the processing unit are operable to compare the received information message to a predetermined set of possible destinations to select the destination.

13. A modular computer system comprising:

carrier means for removably receiving a plurality of information processing means;

the plurality of information processing means removably received in the carrier means, each of the plurality of information processing means including a communications port operable to connect to a communications network internal to the carrier;

switch means for connecting to the internal communications network to distribute information messages between the plurality of information processing means and for connecting to an external communications network; and

information distribution means removably received in the carrier, wherein the information distribution means includes;

at least one communications port coupled to the internal communications network and configured to receive an information message;

a processing unit configured to compare the received information message to a predetermined set of possible destinations to determine a destination, wherein the communications port is further configured to transmit the received information message to the determined destination;

a control processor coupled to the processing unit, wherein the control processor is configured to control an operation of the processing unit; and

a blade service controller coupled to the control processor, wherein the blade service controller is configured to provide system management functions for the information distribution module.