Method and architecture for logical aggregation of multiple servers
First Claim
1. A tunnel endpoint device comprising:
- a network interface connected to a local area network having a cluster of tunnel endpoint devices, the tunnel endpoint device being one of the cluster, the network interface configured to receive a Start-Control-Connection-Request (SCCRQ) message via the local area network to initiate establishment of a tunnel connection, wherein the SCCRQ includes a destination address field modified to be set to a local address of the tunnel endpoint device and a tunnel ID value assigned by a tunnel initiator to the tunnel connection being set-up;
means for forming a Start-Control-Connection-Reply (SCCRP) message having an address of the tunnel initiator, the tunnel ID value assigned to the tunnel connection by the tunnel initiator, and a tunnel ID value assigned to the tunnel connection by the tunnel endpoint device; and
means for transmitting the SCCRP message to a network address translation server via the network interface.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method are shown for multiple network devices to operate as a single logical entity for serving tunnel connections. A cluster master device is connected to a multiple network devices through a local area network (LAN). The cluster master device is also connected to a wide area network (WAN) and has a master address that is unique on the WAN. The cluster master device receives a tunnel connection set-up request (SCCRQ) from the WAN that is addressed to the master address. The cluster master device selects one of the multiple network devices and forwards the SCCRQ message over the LAN to the selected network device. The selected network device selects a tunnel identification number that is unique for the tunnel connection on the selected network device and places the tunnel identification number into a source tunnel identification field of a connection set-up reply (SCCRP). The selected network device also places its own global address on the WAN into a source address field of the SCCRP, a value from a source address field of the SCCRQ into a destination address field of the SCCRP, and a value from a source tunnel identification field of the SCCRQ into a destination tunnel identification field of the SCCRP. The selected network device then transmits the SCCRP message onto the WAN. Alternatively, the multiple network devices do not have global addresses on the WAN and the SCCRP is transmitted over the LAN to a network address translation (NAT) server that substitutes its own address into the source address field of the SCCRP and retransmits the SCCRP onto the WAN. The NAT creates a table from the information in the SCCRP that it uses to translate and route subsequent packets between the selected network device and the device that requested the tunnel connection.
53 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A tunnel endpoint device comprising:
a network interface connected to a local area network having a cluster of tunnel endpoint devices, the tunnel endpoint device being one of the cluster, the network interface configured to receive a Start-Control-Connection-Request (SCCRQ) message via the local area network to initiate establishment of a tunnel connection, wherein the SCCRQ includes a destination address field modified to be set to a local address of the tunnel endpoint device and a tunnel ID value assigned by a tunnel initiator to the tunnel connection being set-up; means for forming a Start-Control-Connection-Reply (SCCRP) message having an address of the tunnel initiator, the tunnel ID value assigned to the tunnel connection by the tunnel initiator, and a tunnel ID value assigned to the tunnel connection by the tunnel endpoint device; and means for transmitting the SCCRP message to a network address translation server via the network interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
-
4. A cluster master device comprising:
-
a first interface coupled to a first network having a plurality of network devices; and a second interface for communicating with a second network, wherein the cluster master device has a master global address that is unique on the second network, and wherein the cluster master device is configured to receive from the second network tunnel connection request messages having the master global address in a destination address field and, for each tunnel connection request message received; (i) select one of the plurality of network devices; (ii) insert a local address for the selected network device into the destination address field of the received tunnel connection request message; and (iii) transmit the received tunnel connection request message as modified over the first network interface onto the first network. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method for terminating tunnel connections comprising:
-
receiving a tunnel connection request message; receiving a load status message from each tunnel endpoint device of a plurality of tunnel endpoint devices on a network; based on the load status messages, selecting a tunnel endpoint device to receive the tunnel connection request message; and assigning the tunnel connection request message to the selected tunnel endpoint device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
-
-
14. A method for terminating tunnel connections comprising:
-
receiving tunnel connection request messages having a master global address in a destination address field and, for each tunnel connection request message received; selecting one of a plurality of network devices connected to a network; inserting a local address for the selected network device into the destination address field of the received tunnel connection request message; and transmitting the received tunnel connection request message as modified onto the network. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification