Distributed traffic controller for network data
First Claim
1. A data traffic controller for a computer network, the data traffic controller comprising:
- a network interface that permits communication with a subnet over which network data is sent and received; and
a plurality of computers connected in a cluster between the network interface and the subnet to form a distributed gateway for communicating network data between said network interface and said subnet, each of which computers executes a distributed gateway application that dynamically assigns any of a plurality of virtual network addresses selected from a pool of virtual addresses to any of a plurality of primary network addresses to send network data to an intended host on the subnet, wherein network data intended for said host on the subnet is addressed to one of the virtual network addresses, and wherein the computers communicate operational status information among themselves for each computer on the same subnet using a group membership protocol word to dynamically reconfigure network data traffic assignments among the plurality of computers in response to said status information for said dynamic assignment of virtual network addresses, wherein one computer can configure and monitor the operating condition of another computer in the distributed gateway cluster.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A distributed gateway for controlling computer network data traffic dynamically reconfigures traffic assignments among multiple gateway machines for increased network availability. If one of the distributed gateway machines becomes unavailable, traffic assignments are moved among the multiple machines such that network availability is substantially unchanged. The machines of the distributed gateway form a cluster and communicate with each other using a Group Membership protocol word such that automatic, dynamic traffic assignment reconfiguration occurs in response to machines being added and deleted from the cluster, with no loss in functionality for the gateway overall, in a process that is transparent to network users, thereby providing a distributed gateway functionality that is scalable. Operation of the distributed gateway remains consistent as machines are added and deleted from the cluster. A scalable, distributed, highly available, load balancing network gateway is thereby provided, having multiple machines that function as a front server layer between the network and a back-end server layer having multiple machines functioning as Web file servers, FTP servers, or other application servers. The front layer machines comprise a server cluster that performs fail-over and dynamic load balancing for both server layers.
264 Citations
75 Claims
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1. A data traffic controller for a computer network, the data traffic controller comprising:
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a network interface that permits communication with a subnet over which network data is sent and received; and a plurality of computers connected in a cluster between the network interface and the subnet to form a distributed gateway for communicating network data between said network interface and said subnet, each of which computers executes a distributed gateway application that dynamically assigns any of a plurality of virtual network addresses selected from a pool of virtual addresses to any of a plurality of primary network addresses to send network data to an intended host on the subnet, wherein network data intended for said host on the subnet is addressed to one of the virtual network addresses, and wherein the computers communicate operational status information among themselves for each computer on the same subnet using a group membership protocol word to dynamically reconfigure network data traffic assignments among the plurality of computers in response to said status information for said dynamic assignment of virtual network addresses, wherein one computer can configure and monitor the operating condition of another computer in the distributed gateway cluster. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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2. A method of controlling data traffic for a computer network through a cluster of a plurality of computers connected as a distributed gateway between a network interface and a subnet over which network data is sent and received, the method comprising:
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receiving network data intended for a host on the subnet at said plurality of computers, wherein the network data is addressed to one of a plurality of virtual network addresses selected from a pool of virtual network addresses that are on the subnet and are associated with one or more primary network addresses; communicating by a computer with one or more of said plurality of computers on the same subnet operational status information about said one or more computers; and dynamically assigning by said plurality of computers in response to said status information said one virtual network address to a primary network address to send the network data to the intended host on the subnet, wherein a computer can configure and monitor the operating condition of another computer in the distributed gateway cluster. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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53. A program product for use in a computer of a plurality of computers connected in a cluster as a distributed gateway between a network interface and a subnet of a computer network over which network data is sent and received, wherein the network data is received through the network interface and communicated through the computer cluster to the subnet, the program product comprising:
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a recordable medium embodying computer-readable instructions executable by the computers to perform a method comprising; receiving by said plurality of computers network data intended for a host on the subnet, wherein the network data is addressed to one of a plurality of virtual network addresses selected from a pool of virtual network addresses that are on the subnet and are associated with one or more primary network addresses; communicating among one or more of said plurality of computers on the same subnet operational status information about said computers; and dynamically assigning by said plurality of computers of said cluster in response to said communicating said status information said virtual network address to a primary network address to send the network data to the intended host on the subnet, thereby controlling network data traffic, wherein a computer can configure and monitor the operating condition of another computer in the distributed gateway cluster. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75)
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Specification