Systems and methods for load balancing based on user selected metrics
First Claim
1. A method of performing load balancing of a service based on a user selected metric, the method comprising:
- identifying, via an appliance in communication via a network with a plurality of heterogeneous load balancing devices for which the appliance provides global server load balancing, a plurality of different metrics provided by the plurality of heterogeneous load balancing devices for a plurality of services to be load balanced by the appliance, the plurality of heterogeneous devices comprising devices of different types;
receiving, by the appliance, information identifying selection by a user of a first metric of a first heterogeneous load balancing device of the plurality of heterogeneous load balancing devices from a plurality of metrics provided by the first heterogeneous load balancing devicereceiving, by the appliance, a first threshold designated by the user for the first user selected metric;
determining, by the appliance from monitoring the first user selected metric collected from the first heterogeneous load balancing device, a load for the plurality of services based on the first user selected metric and the first user designated threshold;
receiving, by the appliance, a request of a client for a service;
determining, by the appliance, that the first user selected metric for a first service of the plurality of services has reached the user identified threshold; and
selecting, by the appliance, a second service from the plurality of services to receive the request.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides improvements to load balancing by providing a load balancing solution that allows a user to select metrics, weights and thresholds from metrics collected or determined by a load balancing appliance as well as metrics obtained from another device, such as a server running the service. The systems and methods described providing a load balancing technique in which load balancing decisions can be made based on metrics known by another device monitoring such metrics. The load balancing appliance uses a network management protocol and communication model, such as a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), to identify and collect metrics from a server, service or other device. These metrics are available on the load balancing appliance with appliance determined metrics. Via a configuration interface of the appliance, a user can select one or more appliance determined metrics and/or the metrics obtained via the network management protocol to determine the load of a service.
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Citations
50 Claims
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1. A method of performing load balancing of a service based on a user selected metric, the method comprising:
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identifying, via an appliance in communication via a network with a plurality of heterogeneous load balancing devices for which the appliance provides global server load balancing, a plurality of different metrics provided by the plurality of heterogeneous load balancing devices for a plurality of services to be load balanced by the appliance, the plurality of heterogeneous devices comprising devices of different types; receiving, by the appliance, information identifying selection by a user of a first metric of a first heterogeneous load balancing device of the plurality of heterogeneous load balancing devices from a plurality of metrics provided by the first heterogeneous load balancing device receiving, by the appliance, a first threshold designated by the user for the first user selected metric; determining, by the appliance from monitoring the first user selected metric collected from the first heterogeneous load balancing device, a load for the plurality of services based on the first user selected metric and the first user designated threshold; receiving, by the appliance, a request of a client for a service; determining, by the appliance, that the first user selected metric for a first service of the plurality of services has reached the user identified threshold; and selecting, by the appliance, a second service from the plurality of services to receive the request. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of performing load balancing of a service based on a user selected metric, the method comprising:
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receiving, by the appliance in communication via a network with a plurality of heterogeneous load balancing devices providing different metrics identified via the appliance and for which the appliance provides global server load balancing, a first metric selected by a user from a plurality of metrics provided by a heterogeneous load balancing device of the plurality of heterogeneous load balancing devices for a service to be load balanced by the appliance and a first threshold for the first metric designated by the user, the plurality of heterogeneous load balancing devices comprising devices of different types; establishing, by the appliance, a second metric of a second plurality of metrics provided by the appliance different from the first metric of the plurality of metrics provided by the heterogeneous load balancing device and a second threshold for the second metric for load balancing the service; collecting, by the appliance, data for the first user selected metric from the heterogeneous load balancing device and data for the appliance established second metric provided by the appliance; determining, by the appliance, a load for the service based on the first user selected metric collected from the heterogeneous load balancing device and the first user designated threshold and the appliance established second metric collected via the appliance and the second threshold; receiving, by the appliance, a request of a client for a service; determining, by the appliance, that one of the user selected metric or the second metric for a first service of the plurality of services has reached the user identified threshold; and selecting, by the appliance, a second service from the plurality of services to receive the request. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. An appliance for performing load balancing of a service based on a user selected metric and user designated threshold, the appliance comprising:
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a configuration interface for receiving information identifying a first metric of a first heterogeneous load balancing device of a plurality of heterogeneous load balancing devices selected by a user from a plurality of different metrics identified as provided from the plurality of heterogeneous load balancing devices for load balancing a plurality of services, and information identifying a first threshold designated by the user for the first metric; a virtual server for directing requests from clients to the plurality of services; a load monitor collecting data for the first user selected metric from the first heterogeneous load balancing device; wherein the load monitor determines a load for the service based on the first user selected metric and the first user designated threshold and the virtual server responsive to the load monitor directs a client request to a service of the plurality of services; and wherein the appliance receives a request of a client for a service, the load monitor determines that the first user selected metric for a first service of the plurality of services has reached the user identified threshold, and selecting by the virtual server a second service from the plurality of services to receive the request server a second service from the plurality of services to receive the request. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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Specification