Network appliance for balancing load and platform services
First Claim
1. A network appliance, comprising:
- at least one platform service stored in memory, the at least one platform service executable by a processing device;
a service monitor stored in memory and executable by a processor to;
monitor a working status of the at least one platform service when executed from memory, the service monitor using interprocess communications, the working status indicating that the at least one platform service is starting,place the at least one platform service in hold mode based on the working status indicating that the at least one platform service is starting, andremove the at least one platform service from hold mode when a predetermined number of successful replies are received from the at least one platform service in response to a plurality of requests; and
a load balancer stored in memory and executable by a processor to suspend received communications to the at least one platform service while the at least one platform service is in hold mode and to resume communications when the at least one platform service is no longer in hold mode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A network appliance is described that can provide a variety of software services, including both platform services, such as access method services, and a load balancing service. A network may include a network appliance that both provides one or more platform services and acts as a load balancer. When two or more such appliances are used together, they can replace a substantial portion of a conventional network. For example, when a network appliance receives a client communication, its load balancer service can determine whether one of its own platform services will process the communication or forward the communication to another network appliance for processing. Moreover, if the load balancing service of a network appliance fails, another network appliance can provide load balancing. Similarly, if another service of a network appliance fails, then the network appliance may continue to provide load balancing but forward communications requiring the failed service to another network appliance for processing.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A network appliance, comprising:
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at least one platform service stored in memory, the at least one platform service executable by a processing device; a service monitor stored in memory and executable by a processor to; monitor a working status of the at least one platform service when executed from memory, the service monitor using interprocess communications, the working status indicating that the at least one platform service is starting, place the at least one platform service in hold mode based on the working status indicating that the at least one platform service is starting, and remove the at least one platform service from hold mode when a predetermined number of successful replies are received from the at least one platform service in response to a plurality of requests; and a load balancer stored in memory and executable by a processor to suspend received communications to the at least one platform service while the at least one platform service is in hold mode and to resume communications when the at least one platform service is no longer in hold mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for balancing loads in a network, the system comprising:
a first network appliance having; at least one first platform service stored in memory, a service monitor stored in memory and executable to; monitor a working status of the at least one first platform service when executed from memory, the service monitor using interprocess communications, the working status indicating that the at least platform service is starting, place the at least one first platform service in hold mode based on the working status indicating that the at least one platform service is starting, and remove the at least one first platform service from hold mode when a predetermined number of successful replies are received from the at least one first platform service in response to a plurality of requests; and a first load balancer stored in memory and executable to suspend communications to the at least one first platform service while the at least one first platform service is in hold mode and to resume communications when the at least one first platform service is no longer in hold mode, the working status indicating that the at least one first platform service is starting; and a second network appliance having; at least one second platform service stored in memory, and a second load balancer stored in memory and executable to perform load balancing on communications received by the second network appliance, wherein the first network appliance is configured to receive all client communications to the network unless the first load balancer fails, and the second network appliance is configured to receive all client communications to the network if the first load balancer fails. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of processing client communications to a network comprising:
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receiving a first client communication at a first network appliance hosting at least one first platform service; monitor a working status of the at least one first platform service when executed from memory, the monitoring using interprocess communications, the working status indicating that the at least one first platform service is starting; placing the at least one platform service in hold mode based on the working status indicating that the at least one platform service is starting; removing the at least one platform service from hold mode when a predetermined number of successful replies are received from the at least one platform service in response to a plurality of requests; employing a load balancer hosted by the first network appliance to suspend communication to the at least one first platform service hosted by the first network appliance while the at least one first platform service is in hold mode and to resume communications when the at least one first platform service is no longer in hold mode; receiving a second client communication at the first network appliance; and employing the load balancer to direct the second client communication to a second platform service hosted by a second network appliance based on at least the working status indicating that the at least one first platform service is starting and a working status of the second platform service. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification