Automated server replication

• US 20030065703A1
• Filed: 10/02/2001
• Published: 04/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sandpiper CDN, LLC (Theseus LF Asset Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Level 3 Communications LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Aborn, Justin
• Granted Patent: US 7,373,644 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 718/105
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/505 considering the load
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1008 based on parameters of servers, e.g. available memory or workload monitoring of computer activity G06F11/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1012 based on compliance of requirements or conditions with available server resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1029 using data related to the state of servers by a load balancer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1031 Controlling of the operation of servers by a load balancer, e.g. adding or removing servers that serve requests

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for detecting a change in demand for server resources across a load-bearing system having one or more content servers hosting identical content, the load-bearing system being connected to a network of content servers; and automatically modifying the number of content servers on the load-bearing system in response to the change in demand.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting a change in demand for server resources across a load-bearing system having one or more content servers hosting identical content, the load-bearing system being connected to a network of content servers; and

automatically modifying the number of content servers on the load-bearing system in response to the change in demand.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each content server on the network is categorized as active or idle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the hosted content is assigned a priority level.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the hosted content is assigned a number defining a maximum number of content servers on the load-bearing system.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a change in demand greater than a pre-configured threshold; and

adding a content server to the load-bearing system if the number of content servers on the load-bearing system is less than a maximum number assigned to the hosted content.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the number of content servers comprises:

selecting an available content server on the network;

loading hosted content onto the selected content server; and

adding the selected content server to the load-bearing system, wherein all of the content servers on the load-bearing system including the selected content server host identical content.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the available content server having the lowest priority level is selected.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the available content server having the highest available load capacity is selected.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the available content server having the least number of active sessions is selected.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the hosted content is assigned a number defining a minimum number of content servers on the load-bearing system.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a change in demand greater than a pre-configured threshold; and

removing a content server from the load-bearing system if the number of content servers on the load-bearing system is greater than a minimum number assigned to the hosted content.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the content server having the highest available load capacity is removed.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the content server having the least number of active sessions is removed.

14. A computer program product stored on a machine-readable medium comprising instructions operable to cause a programmable processor to:

detect a change in demand for server resources across a load-bearing system having one or more content servers hosting identical content, the load-bearing system being connected to a network of content servers; and

automatically modify the number of content servers on the load-bearing system in response to the change in demand.

15. The product of claim 14, wherein each content server on the network is categorized as active or idle.

16. The product of claim 14, wherein the hosted content is assigned a priority level.

17. The product of claim 14, wherein the hosted content is assigned a number defining a maximum number of content servers on the load-bearing system.

18. The product of claim 14, further comprising instructions operable to:

detect a change in demand greater than a pre-configured threshold; and

add a content server to the load-bearing system if the number of content servers on the load-bearing system is less than a maximum number assigned to the hosted content.

19. The product of claim 14, wherein modifying the number of content servers comprises:

selecting an available content server on the network;

loading hosted content onto the selected content server; and

adding the selected content server to the load-bearing system, wherein all of the content servers on the load-bearing system including the selected content server use the identical hosted content.

20. The product of claim 19, wherein the available content server having the lowest priority level is selected.

21. The product of claim 20, wherein the available content server having the highest available load capacity is selected.

22. The product of claim 20, wherein the available content server having the least number of active sessions is selected.

23. The product of claim 14, wherein the hosted content is assigned a number defining a minimum number of content servers on the load-bearing system.

24. The product of claim 14, further comprising instructions operable to:

detect a change in demand greater than a pre-configured threshold; and

remove a content server from the load-bearing system if the number of content servers on the load-bearing system is greater than a minimum number assigned to the hosted content.

25. The product of claim 24, wherein the content server having the highest available load capacity is removed.

26. The product of claim 24, wherein the content server having the least number of active sessions is removed.

27. A system comprising:

a first network having client servers connected to an Internet;

a second network connected to the Internet, the second network comprising;

content servers connected to a management server, a first subset of the content servers providing a load bearing system, the management server including a means for detecting a change in demand for content server resources across the load-bearing system; and

means for automatically modifying the first subset of content servers on the load bearing system in response to the change in demand.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the first subset of content servers uses an identical hosted content.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the management server includes a means for categorizing each content server as active or idle.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein the management server includes a means for assigning a priority level to the hosted content.

31. The system of claim 27, wherein the management server includes a means for assigning a number defining a maximum number of content servers on the load-bearing system to the hosted content.

32. The system of claim 27, wherein the management server includes a means for:

detecting a change in demand greater than a pre-configured threshold; and

adding a content server to the load-bearing system if the number of content servers on the load-bearing system is less than a maximum number assigned to the hosted content.

33. The system of claim 27, wherein the management server further comprises a means for:

selecting an available content server on the second network;

loading hosted content onto the selected content server; and

adding the selected content server to the load-bearing system, wherein all of the content servers on the load-bearing system including the selected content server use the identical hosted content.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the management server selects the available content server having the lowest priority level.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein the management server selects the available content server having the highest available load capacity.

36. The system of claim 33, wherein the management server selects the available content server having the least number of active sessions.

37. The system of claim 27, wherein the management server includes a means for assigning a number defining a minimum number of content servers on the load-bearing system to the hosted content.

38. The system of claim 27, wherein the management system further comprises a means for:

detecting a change in demand greater than a pre-configured threshold; and

removing a content server from the load-bearing system if the number of content servers on the load-bearing system is greater than a minimum number assigned to the hosted content.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the management server removes the content server having the highest available load capacity.

40. The system of claim 38, wherein the management server removes the content server having the least number of active sessions.