Load balancing of servers in a cluster
First Claim
1. A method for managing a cluster of servers, said method comprising the steps of:
- a load balancer selecting servers to handle respective work requests assigned to said cluster based on a load balancing algorithm, and sending said work requests to the selected servers;
said load balancer receiving a membership request from another server not currently a member of said cluster, said membership request requesting that said other server become a member of said cluster to handle work requests and specifying a threshold level of work requests that can be handled by said other server, said load balancer not resident in said other server, wherein said threshold level of work requests is a number of message packets over a unit of time; and
in response to said membership request from said other server, said load balancer joining said other server as a member of said cluster to handle some work requests subsequently assigned to said cluster based on said load balancing algorithm and said threshold level of work requests for said other server.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system, method and program product for operating a cluster of servers. A load balancer, separate from the servers, selects servers to handle respective work requests assigned to the cluster based on a load balancing algorithm, and sends the work requests to the selected servers. The load balancer receives a request from another server not currently a member of the cluster. The request requests that the other server become a member of the cluster to handle work requests. In response to the request, the load balancer joins the other server as a member of the cluster to handle some work requests subsequently assigned to the cluster. The other server specifies to the load balancer a load threshold for the other server. The other server specifies to the load balancer a time-out to be used for the other server. The time-out indicates a time allotted for the other server to send a hello message since sending a previous hello message.
71 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for managing a cluster of servers, said method comprising the steps of:
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a load balancer selecting servers to handle respective work requests assigned to said cluster based on a load balancing algorithm, and sending said work requests to the selected servers; said load balancer receiving a membership request from another server not currently a member of said cluster, said membership request requesting that said other server become a member of said cluster to handle work requests and specifying a threshold level of work requests that can be handled by said other server, said load balancer not resident in said other server, wherein said threshold level of work requests is a number of message packets over a unit of time; and in response to said membership request from said other server, said load balancer joining said other server as a member of said cluster to handle some work requests subsequently assigned to said cluster based on said load balancing algorithm and said threshold level of work requests for said other server. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A computer program product for managing a cluster of servers, said computer program product comprising:
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a computer readable media; first program instructions to select servers to handle respective work requests assigned to said cluster based on a load balancing algorithm, and initiate sending of said work requests to the selected servers; second program instructions to receive a membership request from another server not currently a member of said cluster, said membership request requesting that said other server become a member of said cluster to handle work requests and specifying a threshold level of work requests that can be handled by said other server, wherin said threshold level of work requests is a number of message packets over a unit of time; and third program instructions, responsive to said membership request from said other server, to join said other server as a member of said cluster to handle some work requests subsequently assigned to said cluster based on said load balancing algorithm and said threshold level of work requests for said other server; and
whereinsaid first, second and third program instructions are executed on a computing device other than said other server; and said first, second and third program instructions are stored on said media. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A computer for managing a cluster of servers, said computer comprising:
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a central processing unit; first program instructions to select servers to handle respective work requests assigned to said cluster based on a load balancing algorithm, and initiate sending of said work requests to the selected servers; second program instructions to receive a membership request from another server not currently a member of said cluster, said membership request requesting that said other server become a member of said cluster to handle work requests and specifying a threshold level of work requests that can be handled by said other server, wherein said threshold level of work requests is a number of message packets over a unit of time; and third program instructions, responsive to said membership request from said other server, to join said other server as a member of said cluster to handle some work requests subsequently assigned to said cluster based on said load balancing algorithm and said threshold level of work requests for said other server; and
whereinsaid first, second and third program instructions are stored in said computer for execution by said central processing unit. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification