Global server load balancing
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A method of load balancing among host servers of a data network, the method comprising;
- storing, in a load balancing switch of the data network, round trip time data for a plurality of host server site switches, wherein the round trip time data for a host server site switch from the plurality of host server site switches indicates a time for exchanging at least one message between the host server site switch and a first client machine of the data network, wherein each host server site switch from the plurality of host server site switches is associated with one or more host servers of the data network, the one or more host servers associated with a host server site switch being reachable via the host server site switch; and
ordering, in the load balancing switch, a plurality of network addresses, the plurality of network addresses being responsive to a query regarding a host name, the plurality of network addresses determined from resolution of the host name, the plurality of network addresses comprising network addresses of multiple host server site switches from the plurality of host server site switches, wherein the load balancing switch is capable of ordering the plurality of network addresses based, at least in part, on the round trip time data stored for the multiple host server site switches.
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Abstract
A global server load balancing (GSLB) switch serves as a proxy to an authoritative DNS communicates with numerous site switches which are coupled to host servers serving specific applications. The GSLB switch receives from site switches operational information regarding host servers within the site switches neighborhood. When a client program requests a resolution of a host name, the GSLB switch, acting as a proxy of an authoritative DNS, returns one or more ordered IP addresses for the host name. The IP addresses are ordered using metrics that include the information collected from the site switches. In one instance, the GSLB switch places the address that is deemed “best” at the top of the list.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method of load balancing among host servers of a data network, the method comprising;
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storing, in a load balancing switch of the data network, round trip time data for a plurality of host server site switches, wherein the round trip time data for a host server site switch from the plurality of host server site switches indicates a time for exchanging at least one message between the host server site switch and a first client machine of the data network, wherein each host server site switch from the plurality of host server site switches is associated with one or more host servers of the data network, the one or more host servers associated with a host server site switch being reachable via the host server site switch; and ordering, in the load balancing switch, a plurality of network addresses, the plurality of network addresses being responsive to a query regarding a host name, the plurality of network addresses determined from resolution of the host name, the plurality of network addresses comprising network addresses of multiple host server site switches from the plurality of host server site switches, wherein the load balancing switch is capable of ordering the plurality of network addresses based, at least in part, on the round trip time data stored for the multiple host server site switches. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of load balancing among host servers of a data network, the method comprising;
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receiving, at a load balancing switch of the data network, a query regarding a host name; selecting, from a plurality of network addresses determined responsive to the query, a best network address based, at least in part, on which of the plurality of network addresses has been least recently selected by the load balancing switch as a best network address in response to previous queries; and storing, at the load balancing switch, round trip time data received from a plurality of host server sites associated with the host servers, wherein the round trip time data received from a host server site comprises a time for exchanging at least one message between the host server site switch client machine from a plurality of client machines. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A load balancing switch for load balancing amongst a plurality of host servers of a data network, the load balancing switch comprising:
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a means for storing round trip time data received from a plurality of host server site switches, the round trip time data received from a host server site switch being a time for exchanging at least one message between the host server site switch and a first client machine from a plurality of client machines of the data network, wherein each host server site switch from the plurality of host server site switches is associated with one or more host servers from the plurality of host servers, the one or more host servers associated with a host server site switch being reachable via the host server site switch; a means for receiving a query regarding a host name, the query originating at the first client machine of the data network; and a means for ordering a plurality of network addresses that are responsive to the query based, at least in part, on the stored round trip time data for host server site switches from the plurality of host server site switches whose network addresses are included in the plurality of network addresses. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A load balancing switch comprising:
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a database configured to store round trip time data for a plurality of host server site switches, the round trip time data for each host server site switch from the plurality of host server site switches indicating a time for exchanging at least one message between the host server site switch and a client machine, each host server site switch from the plurality of host server site switches being associated with one or more host servers, the one or more host servers associated with a host server site switch being reachable via the host server site switch; and a module configured to order a plurality of network addresses, the plurality of network addresses received by the load balancing switch in response to a query originating at the client machine, the plurality network addresses comprising network addresses determined from resolving a host name identified in the query, the plurality of network addresses comprising network addresses of multiple host server site switches from the plurality of host server site switches, wherein the network addresses in the plurality of network addresses are ordered based upon the round trip time data stored in the database for the multiple host server site switches. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification