Network load distribution device and method

A network load balancing method performed by a network load balancing apparatus, the network load balancing method comprising:

• a packet receiving step of receiving one or more packets, wherein the network load balancing apparatus comprises a plurality of data buffers, the plurality of data buffers comprises a data buffer for each communication path of each transfer destination of the one or more packets, and each data buffer of the plurality of data buffers being associated with only one virtual function of a plurality of virtual functions and only one communication path priority level of a plurality of communication path priority levels;
• a function transfer control step of determining a destination virtual function based on a field value contained in a received packet or a hash value calculated using the field value;
• a hash value calculation step of calculating a first hash value using the field value;
• a priority control step of determining a first communication path of a transfer destination of the received packet when the received packet is to be subject to priority control based on the first hash value, the first communication path corresponding to a first data buffer of the plurality of data buffers, and the first data buffer corresponding to a priority communication path and the destination virtual function;
• a load balancing control step of determining a second communication path of the transfer destination of the received packet when the received packet is to be subject to load balancing control, to match a preset load balancing situation of a second data buffer of the plurality of data buffers, based on the first hash value or a second hash value based on the first hash value, the second communication path corresponding to the second data buffer, and the second data buffer corresponding to a load balancing communication path and the destination virtual function;
• and
• a packet transfer control step of, in accordance with the destination virtual function determined in the function transfer control step and the first or the second communication path of the transfer destination determined in at least one of the priority control step or the load balancing control step, transmitting the received packet to the first data buffer corresponding to the destination virtual function and the first communication path or to the second data buffer corresponding to the destination virtual function and the second communication path.