Determining an application delivery server based on geo-location information

• US 9,960,967 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2009
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: A10 Networks Incorporated
• Original Assignee: A10 Networks Incorporated
• Inventors: Chen, Lee, Chiong, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Dennison, Jerry B
• Application Number:
  US12/603,471
• Publication Number:
  US 20110093522A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,114 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• 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 67/1021 based on client or server locations
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1036 Load balancing of requests to servers for services different from user content provisioning, e.g. load balancing across domain name servers

Abstract

A method and system to determine a web server based on geo-location information is disclosed. The system includes: a local DNS server coupled to a web client; a plurality of web servers; and a global load balancer coupled to the local DNS server. The global load balancer: receives a request for a web service sent by the web client, the request comprising local DNS server information; determines a geographic location for the local DNS server based on the local DNS server information; determines a web server from the plurality of web servers based on the requested web service; determines a geographic location for the determined web server; determines that the geographic location for the local DNS server matches the geographic location for the determined web server; selects the determined web server; and sends a response comprising information on the selected web server to the local DNS server.

Claims

1. A method for geo-location based web service load balancing by a global load balancing computer, the method comprising:

receiving by the global load balancing computer a request for a web service offered by a web site sent by a local domain name system (DNS) server to a global DNS server, the local DNS server being coupled to a web client requesting the web service, the request comprising local DNS server information and a domain name, the global load balancer being coupled between the local DNS server and the global DNS server;

determining a geographic location of the local DNS server based on the local DNS server information;

conditionally determining a web server from a plurality of web servers that serve the requested web service offered by the website based on a web server location entry from a web server location database;

determining a geographic location for the conditionally determined web server from the web server location entry;

comparing the geographic location of the local DNS server to the geographic location for the conditionally determined web server, the determining a web server that is able to serve the requested web service offered by the website from a plurality of web servers and the determining a geographic location for the conditionally determined web server comprising;

querying the web server location database using the domain name, wherein the web server location database comprises a plurality of entries, each entry comprising a domain name, a corresponding web server, and a corresponding geographic location, wherein the web server location database identifies one or more entries comprising a domain name matching the domain name from the request; and

receiving from the web server location database a corresponding geographic location from the identified entry as the geographic location for the conditionally determined web server, each entry further comprising a performance factor, the performance factor comprising a latency, wherein the determining one of the corresponding web servers based on the comparison of the performance factors for the corresponding geographic locations that match the geographic location of the local DNS server comprises;

determining the corresponding web server with a smallest latency, wherein the web server location database identifies a plurality of entries comprising the domain name matching the domain name from the request, the receiving from the web server location database a corresponding geographic location from the identified entry as the geographic location for the conditionally determined web server, the determining that the geographic location of the local DNS server matches the geographic location for the conditionally determined web server, and the selecting the conditionally determined web server comprises;

receiving from the web server location database the corresponding web servers, the corresponding geographic locations, and the performance factors from the identified entries;

determining if any of the corresponding geographic locations match the geographic location of the local DNS server;

comparing the performance factors for the corresponding geographic locations that match the geographic location of the local DNS server;

determining one of the corresponding web servers based on the comparison of the performance factors for the corresponding geographic locations that match the geographic location of the local DNS server; and

selecting the conditionally determined web server;

if the geographic location of the local DNS server matches the geographic location for the conditionally determined web server based on the comparing;

selecting by the global load balancer the conditionally determined web server to serve the requested web service offered by the website;

modifying a response to the request for the web service to comprise information on the selected web server, the response being sent by the global DNS server to the global load balancer; and

sending the modified response to the local DNS server.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the geographic location of the local DNS server comprises one of the following:

a geographic location at which the local DNS server resides;

or

a geographic location of an IP gateway connected to the web client.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the geographic location for the conditionally determined web server comprises one of the following:

a geographic location at which the conditionally determined web server resides;

a local DNS server geographic location serviced by the conditionally determined web server;

or

a web client geographic location serviced by the conditionally determined web server.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the local DNS server information comprises an IP address of the local DNS server, wherein the determining a geographic location of the local DNS server based on the local DNS server information comprises:

querying a server location database using the IP address of the local DNS server, wherein the server location database comprises a plurality of entries, each entry comprising an IP address and a corresponding geographic location, wherein the server location database identifies one or more entries comprising an IP address matching the IP address of the local DNS server; and

receiving from the server location database a corresponding geographic location from the identified entry as the geographic location of the local DNS server.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the IP address in the identified entry matches the IP address of the local DNS server when:

the IP address in the identified entry is an exact match to the IP address of the local DNS server;

or

the IP address of the local DNS server is within a range of IP addresses in the identified entry.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the request further comprises a domain name, wherein the determining a web server that is able to serve the requested web service offered by the website from a plurality of web servers and the determining a geographic location for the conditionally determined web server

comprises:

querying the web server location database using the domain name, wherein the web server location database comprises a plurality of entries, each entry comprising a domain name, a corresponding web server, and a corresponding geographic location, wherein the web server location database identifies one or more entries comprising a

domain name matching the domain name from the request; and

receiving from the web server location database a corresponding geographic location from the identified entry as the geographic location for the conditionally determined web server.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the domain name in the identified entry matches the domain name from the request when:

the identified entry contains a domain name prefix and the domain name from the request contains the prefix;

or

the domain name from the request is a sub-domain of the domain name in the identified entry.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the geographic location of the local DNS server matches the geographic location for the conditionally determined web server when:

the geographic location of the local DNS server is within a predetermined distance from the geographic location for the conditionally determined web server.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of web servers comprises a plurality of server computers servicing the requested web service.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the performance factor comprises a network capacity, wherein the determining one of the corresponding web servers based on the comparison of the performance factors for the corresponding geographic locations that match the geographic location of the local DNS server comprises:

determining the corresponding web server with a largest network capacity.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the performance factor comprises a processing capability, wherein the determining one of the corresponding web servers based on the comparison of the performance factors for the corresponding geographic locations that match the geographic location of the local DNS server comprises:

determining the corresponding web server with a best processing capability.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the modifying comprises:

intercepting the response to the request sent by the global DNS server to the local DNS server; and

modifying the response to indicate the selected web server.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to determining that the geographic location of the local DNS server does not match the geographic location for the conditionally determined web server,

sending the unmodified response to the local DNS server.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the request further comprises a domain name, wherein the determining a web server that is able to serve the requested web service offered by the website from a plurality of web servers and the determining a geographic location for the conditionally determined web server

comprises:

querying the web server location database using the domain name, wherein the web server location database comprises a plurality of entries, each entry comprising a domain name, a corresponding web server, and a corresponding geographic location, wherein the web server location database identifies one or more entries comprising a

domain name matching the domain name from the request; and

receiving from the web server location database a corresponding geographic location from the identified entry as the geographic location for the conditionally determined web server.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the domain name in the identified entry matches the domain name from the request when:

the identified entry contains a domain name prefix and the domain name from the request contains the prefix;

or

the domain name from the request is a sub-domain of the domain name in the identified entry.

14. A method for geo-location based web service load balancing by a global load balancing computer, the method comprising:

receiving by the global load balancing computer a request for a web service offered by a web site sent by a local domain name system (DNS) server to a global DNS server, the local DNS server being coupled to a web client requesting the web service, the request comprising local DNS server information and a domain name, the global load balancer being coupled between the local DNS server and the global DNS server;

determining a geographic location of the local DNS server based on the local DNS server information;

conditionally determining a web server from a plurality of web servers that serve the requested web service offered by the website based on a web server location entry from a web server location database;

determining a geographic location for the conditionally determined web server from the web server location entry;

comparing the geographic location of the local DNS server to the geographic location for the conditionally determined web server, the determining a web server that is able to serve the requested web service offered by the website from a plurality of web servers and the determining a geographic location for the conditionally determined web server comprising;

querying the web server location database using the domain name, wherein the web server location database comprises a plurality of entries, each entry comprising a domain name, a corresponding web server, and a corresponding geographic location, wherein the web server location database identifies one or more entries comprising a domain name matching the domain name from the request; and

receiving from the web server location database a corresponding geographic location from the identified entry as the geographic location for the conditionally determined web server, each entry further comprising a performance factor, wherein the web server location database identifies a plurality of entries comprising the domain name matching the domain name from the request, the receiving from the web server location database a corresponding geographic location from the identified entry as the geographic location for the conditionally determined web server, the determining that the geographic location of the local DNS server matches the geographic location for the conditionally determined web server, and the selecting the conditionally determined web server comprises;

receiving from the web server location database the corresponding web servers, the corresponding geographic locations, and the performance factors from the identified entries;

determining if any of the corresponding geographic locations match the geographic location of the local DNS server;

comparing the performance factors for the corresponding geographic locations that match the geographic location of the local DNS server, at least one of the performance factors comprising a network capacity;

determining one of the corresponding web servers based on the comparison of the performance factors for the corresponding geographic locations that match the geographic location of the local DNS server, and determining the corresponding web server with a largest network capacity; and

selecting the conditionally determined web server;

if the geographic location of the local DNS server matches the geographic location for the conditionally determined web server based on the comparing;

selecting by the global load balancer the conditionally determined web server to serve the requested web service offered by the website;

modifying a response to the request for the web service to comprise information on the selected web server, the response being sent by the global DNS server to the global load balancer; and

sending the modified response to the local DNS server.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the geographic location of the local DNS server comprises one of the following:

a geographic location at which the local DNS server resides;

or

a geographic location of an IP gateway connected to the web client.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the geographic location for the conditionally determined web server comprises one of the following:

a geographic location at which the conditionally determined web server resides;

a local DNS server geographic location serviced by the conditionally determined web server;

or

a web client geographic location serviced by the conditionally determined web server.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the local DNS server information comprises an IP address of the local DNS server, wherein the determining a geographic location of the local DNS server based on the local DNS server information comprises:

querying a server location database using the IP address of the local DNS server, wherein the server location database comprises a plurality of entries, each entry comprising an IP address and a corresponding geographic location, wherein the server location database identifies one or more entries comprising an IP address matching the IP address of the local DNS server; and

receiving from the server location database a corresponding geographic location from the identified entry as the geographic location of the local DNS server.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the IP address in the identified entry matches the IP address of the local DNS server when:

the IP address in the identified entry is an exact match to the IP address of the local DNS server;

or

the IP address of the local DNS server is within a range of IP addresses in the identified entry.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the geographic location of the local DNS server matches the geographic location for the conditionally determined web server when:

the geographic location of the local DNS server is within a predetermined distance from the geographic location for the conditionally determined web server.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein each of the plurality of web servers comprises a plurality of server computers servicing the requested web service.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the performance factor comprises a latency, wherein the determining one of the corresponding web servers based on the comparison of the performance factors for the corresponding geographic locations that match the geographic location of the local DNS server comprises:

determining the corresponding web server with a smallest latency.

24. The method of claim 14, wherein the performance factor comprises a processing capability, wherein the determining one of the corresponding web servers based on the comparison of the performance factors for the corresponding geographic locations that match the geographic location of the local DNS server comprises:

determining the corresponding web server with a best processing capability.

25. The method of claim 14, wherein the modifying comprises:

intercepting the response to the request sent by the global DNS server to the local DNS server; and

modifying the response to indicate the selected web server.

26. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

in response to determining that the geographic location of the local DNS server does not match the geographic location for the conditionally determined web server, sending the unmodified response to the local DNS server.

27. A method for geo-location based web service load balancing by a global load balancing computer, the method comprising:

receiving by the global load balancing computer a request for a web service offered by a web site sent by a local domain name system (DNS) server to a global DNS server, the local DNS server being coupled to a web client requesting the web service, the request comprising local DNS server information and a domain name, the global load balancer being coupled between the local DNS server and the global DNS server;

determining a geographic location of the local DNS server based on the local DNS server information;

conditionally determining a web server from a plurality of web servers that serve the requested web service offered by the website based on a web server location entry from a web server location database;

determining a geographic location for the conditionally determined web server from the web server location entry;

comparing the geographic location of the local DNS server to the geographic location for the conditionally determined web server, the determining a web server that is able to serve the requested web service offered by the website from a plurality of web servers and the determining a geographic location for the conditionally determined web server comprising;

querying the web server location database using the domain name, wherein the web server location database comprises a plurality of entries, each entry comprising a domain name, a corresponding web server, and a corresponding geographic location, wherein the web server location database identifies one or more entries comprising a domain name matching the domain name from the request; and

receiving from the web server location database a corresponding geographic location from the identified entry as the geographic location for the conditionally determined web server, each entry further comprising a performance factor, the performance factor comprising a processing capability, wherein the web server location database identifies a plurality of entries comprising the domain name matching the domain name from the request, the receiving from the web server location database a corresponding geographic location from the identified entry as the geographic location for the conditionally determined web server, the determining that the geographic location of the local DNS server matches the geographic location for the conditionally determined web server, and the selecting the conditionally determined web server comprises;

receiving from the web server location database the corresponding web servers, the corresponding geographic locations, and the performance factors from the identified entries;

determining if any of the corresponding geographic locations match the geographic location of the local DNS server;

comparing the performance factors for the corresponding geographic locations that match the geographic location of the local DNS server;

determining one of the corresponding web servers based on the comparison of the performance factors for the corresponding geographic locations that match the geographic location of the local DNS server, the determining including selecting the corresponding web server with a best processing capability; and

selecting the conditionally determined web server;

if the geographic location of the local DNS server matches the geographic location for the conditionally determined web server based on the comparing;

selecting by the global load balancer the conditionally determined web server to serve the requested web service offered by the website;

modifying a response to the request for the web service to comprise information on the selected web server, the response being sent by the global DNS server to the global load balancer; and

sending the modified response to the local DNS server.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the geographic location of the local DNS server comprises one of the following:

a geographic location at which the local DNS server resides;

or

a geographic location of an IP gateway connected to the web client.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the geographic location for the conditionally determined web server comprises one of the following:

a geographic location at which the conditionally determined web server resides;

a local DNS server geographic location serviced by the conditionally determined web server;

or

a web client geographic location serviced by the conditionally determined web server.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the local DNS server information comprises an IP address of the local DNS server, wherein the determining a geographic location of the local DNS server based on the local DNS server information comprises:

querying a server location database using the IP address of the local DNS server, wherein the server location database comprises a plurality of entries, each entry comprising an IP address and a corresponding geographic location, wherein the server location database identifies one or more entries comprising an IP address matching the IP address of the local DNS server; and

receiving from the server location database a corresponding geographic location from the identified entry as the geographic location of the local DNS server.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the IP address in the identified entry matches the IP address of the local DNS server when:

the IP address in the identified entry is an exact match to the IP address of the local DNS server;

or

the IP address of the local DNS server is within a range of IP addresses in the identified entry.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein the request further comprises a domain name, wherein the determining a web server that is able to serve the requested web service offered by the website from a plurality of web servers and the determining a geographic location for the conditionally determined web server

comprises:

querying the web server location database using the domain name, wherein the web server location database comprises a plurality of entries, each entry comprising a domain name, a corresponding web server, and a corresponding geographic location, wherein the web server location database identifies one or more entries comprising a

domain name matching the domain name from the request; and

receiving from the web server location database a corresponding geographic location from the identified entry as the geographic location for the conditionally determined web server.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the domain name in the identified entry matches the domain name from the request when:

the identified entry contains a domain name prefix and the domain name from the request contains the prefix;

or

the domain name from the request is a sub-domain of the domain name in the identified entry.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein the geographic location of the local DNS server matches the geographic location for the conditionally determined web server when:

the geographic location of the local DNS server is within a predetermined distance from the geographic location for the conditionally determined web server.

35. The method of claim 27, wherein each of the plurality of web servers comprises a plurality of server computers servicing the requested web service.

36. The method of claim 27, wherein each entry further comprises a performance factor, wherein the web server location database identifies a plurality of entries comprising the domain name matching the domain name from the request, wherein the receiving from the web server location database a corresponding geographic location from the identified entry as the geographic location for the conditionally determined web server, the determining that the geographic location of the local DNS server matches the geographic location for the conditionally determined web server, and the selecting the conditionally determined web server comprises:

receiving from the web server location database the corresponding web servers, the corresponding geographic locations, and the performance factors from the identified entries;

determining if any of the corresponding geographic locations match the geographic location of the local DNS server;

comparing the performance factors for the corresponding geographic locations that match the geographic location of the local DNS server;

determining one of the corresponding web servers based on the comparison of the performance factors for the corresponding geographic locations that match the geographic location of the local DNS server; and

selecting the conditionally determined web server.

37. The method of claim 27, wherein the performance factor comprises a latency, wherein the determining one of the corresponding web servers based on the comparison of the performance factors for the corresponding geographic locations that match the geographic location of the local DNS server comprises:

determining the corresponding web server with a smallest latency.

38. The method of claim 27, wherein the performance factor comprises a network capacity, wherein the determining one of the corresponding web servers based on the comparison of the performance factors for the corresponding geographic locations that match the geographic location of the local DNS server comprises:

determining the corresponding web server with a largest network capacity.

39. The method of claim 27, wherein the modifying comprises:

intercepting the response to the request sent by the global DNS server to the local DNS server; and

modifying the response to indicate the selected web server.

40. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

in response to determining that the geographic location of the local DNS server does not match the geographic location for the conditionally determined web server, sending the unmodified response to the local DNS server.