System and methods for mixed mode of IPv6 and IPv4 DNS of global server load balancing

• US 8,825,859 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2010
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Citrix Systems, Inc. (Cloud Software Group)
• Original Assignee: Citrix Systems, Inc. (Cloud Software Group)
• Inventors: Mutnuru, Rishi, Kamath, Sandeep
• Primary Examiner(s): Mejia, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US12/976,710
• Publication Number:
  US 20110153831A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,350 Days
• Field of Search: 709/200, 709/226
• US Class Current: 709/226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/686 using dual-stack hosts, e.g. in Internet protocol version 4 [IPv4]/Internet protocol version 6 [IPv6] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/167 Adaptation for transition between two IP versions, e.g. between IPv4 and IPv6 translation of Internet protocol [IP] addresses H04L61/2503

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing one or more GSLB vServers to support both IPv4 and IPv6. The IPv6 support can be provided by permitting both A and AAAA domain name resolution. In other embodiments, the IPv6 support can be provided by modifying data structures to support IPv6 addresses.

Claims

1. A method for Global Server Load Balancing of co-existing IPv4 and IPv6 services for a domain, the method comprising:

(a) executing, by a device intermediary to a plurality of a clients and a plurality of servers, a first global server load balancing (GSLB) virtual server for global load balancing a plurality of IPv6 based services for a site domain name;

(b) executing, by the device, a second global server load balancing (GSLB) virtual server for global load balancing a plurality of IPv4 based services for the same site domain name as the first GSLB virtual server;

(c) receiving, by the device from a client of the plurality of clients, a domain name system (DNS) query;

(d) determining, by the device, a type of the DNS query; and

(e) forwarding, by the device, the DNS query to one of the first GSLB virtual server or the second GSLB virtual server based on the determined type.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises configuring a parameter of the first global server load balancing (GSLB) virtual server to select an Internet Protocol (IP) type of IPv6.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) further comprises configuring a parameter of the second global server load balancing (GSLB) virtual server to select an Internet Protocol (IP) type of IPv4.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) further comprises receiving, by a domain name service of the device from the client, the DNS query comprising an A query for the site domain, wherein step (d) further comprises determining, by the device the type of the DNS query is IPv4 and wherein step (e) further comprises forwarding, by the device, the DNS query to the second GSLB virtual server.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising resolving, by the second GSLB virtual server based on a load balancing algorithm, to an IPv4 address of an IPv4 based service of the plurality of IPv4 based services.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising setting, by the first GSLB virtual server responsive to maintaining site persistence, a site cookie for the client to include an IPv4 header.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) further comprises receiving, by a domain name service of the device from the client, the DNS query comprising an AAAA query for the site domain, wherein step (d) further comprises determining, by the device the type of the DNS query is IPv6 and wherein step (e) further comprises forwarding, by the device, the DNS query to the first GSLB virtual server.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising resolving, by the first GSLB virtual server based on a load balancing algorithm, the DNS query to an IPv6 address of an IPv6 based service of the plurality of IPv6 based services.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising setting, by the second GSLB virtual server to maintaining site persistence, a site cookie for the client to include an IPv6 header.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) further comprises receiving, by the device, from the client with an IPv6 source Internet Protocol address the DNS query comprising an A query.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) further comprises receiving, by the device, from the client with an IPv4 source Internet Protocol address the DNS query comprising an AAAA query.

12. A system for Global Server Load Balancing of co-existing IPv4 and IPv6 services for a domain, the system comprising:

a device intermediary to a plurality of a clients and a plurality of servers

a first global server load balancing (GSLB) virtual server executing on the device for global load balancing a plurality of IPv6 based services for a site domain name;

a second global server load balancing (GSLB) virtual server executing on the device for global load balancing a plurality of IPv4 based services for the same site domain name as the first GSLB virtual server;

wherein a domain name service of the device receives from a client of the plurality of clients a domain name system (DNS) query, determines a type of the DNS query and forwards the DNS query to one of the first GSLB virtual server or the second GSLB virtual server based on the determined type.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the first global server load balancing (GSLB) virtual server is configured via a parameter specifying an Internet Protocol (IP) type of IPv6.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the second global server load balancing (GSLB) virtual server is configured via a parameter specifying an Internet Protocol (IP) type of IPv4.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the domain name service receives the DNS query comprising an A query for the site domain, determines the type of the DNS query is IPv4 and forwards the DNS query to the second GSLB virtual server.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the second GSLB virtual server resolves the DNS query, based on a load balancing algorithm, to an IPv4 address of an IPv4 based service of the plurality of IPv4 based services.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the first GSLB virtual server sets responsive to maintaining site persistence a site cookie for the client to include an IPv4 header.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the domain name service receives the DNS query comprising an AAAA query for the site domain, determines the type of the DNS query is IPv6 and forwards the DNS query to the first GSLB virtual server.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the first GSLB virtual server load balances based on a load balancing algorithm, to an IPv6 address of an IPv6 based service of the plurality of IPv6 based services.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the second GSLB virtual server sets, responsive to maintaining site persistence, a site cookie for the client to include an IPv6 header.