Virtual load balancing across a network link
First Claim
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1. A network comprising:
- a first network switch comprising a transmit load balancing engine for subdividing at least a first channel into a plurality of transmit virtual channels of the first network switch;
a second network switch comprising a receive load balancing engine; and
a network link between the first network switch and the second network switch, wherein the first network switch further comprises a link interface device for multiplexing the plurality of transmit virtual channels on to the network line, and wherein the receive load balancing engine subdivides the network link into a plurality of receive virtual channels of the second network switch, equal in number to the plurality of transmit virtual channels of the first network switch.
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Abstract
Information is directed across the same corresponding virtual channels in both a first network switch and a second network switch. As a result, any congestion in the second network switch results only in packet dropping associated with the particular congested virtual channel. However, information continues to move across the remaining uncongested virtual channels. As a result, even if congestion occurs in the second network switch, information continues to flow across the single network link between the first and second network switches, i.e., the single network link is not shut down.
73 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A network comprising:
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a first network switch comprising a transmit load balancing engine for subdividing at least a first channel into a plurality of transmit virtual channels of the first network switch; a second network switch comprising a receive load balancing engine; and a network link between the first network switch and the second network switch, wherein the first network switch further comprises a link interface device for multiplexing the plurality of transmit virtual channels on to the network line, and wherein the receive load balancing engine subdivides the network link into a plurality of receive virtual channels of the second network switch, equal in number to the plurality of transmit virtual channels of the first network switch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method in a network comprising:
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receiving information at a load balancing engine of a first network switch; load balancing the information across a plurality of virtual channels of the first network switch; and sending the information to a load balancing engine of a second network switch, wherein the load balancing engine of the second network switch to subdivide the information across an equal number of virtual channels of the second network switch corresponding to the plurality of virtual channels of the first network switch. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A switch fabric comprising:
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a first network switch having a first channel, the first channel comprising a first plurality of virtual channels; a second network switch having a second channel, the second channel comprising a second plurality of virtual channels corresponding to the first plurality of virtual channels; a single network link communicatively connecting the first network switch and the second network switch; a load balancing engine to load balance data traffic among the first plurality of virtual channels; means for transmitting the data traffic from the first network switch to the second network switch over the single network link; and means for receiving the data traffic at the second network switch via the single network link, wherein a receive load balancing engine of the second network switch distributes the data traffic among the second plurality of virtual channels corresponding to the first plurality of virtual channels. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification