Method and apparatus to distribute data center network traffic

A computer-readable storage medium storing a plurality of instructions for controlling a data processor to manage network traffic, the plurality of instructions comprising:

• instructions that cause the data processor to store, in a memory, a first logical group which has a first plurality of IP addresses of a first plurality of ports and is assigned to a first ID (identifier), and a second logical group which has a second plurality of IP addresses of a second plurality of ports and is assigned to a second ID;
• and
• instructions that cause the data processor to control to cause a logical path of the first logical group to use a first physical path which is different from a second physical path to be used by a logical path of the second logical group, based on the first ID and the second ID.

A method of controlling network traffic using a switch that includes a memory and a controller, the method comprising:

• storing, in the memory, a first logical group which has a first plurality of IP addresses of a first plurality of ports and is assigned to a first ID (identifier), and a second logical group which has a second plurality of IP addresses of a second plurality of ports and is assigned to a second ID;
• and
• controlling to cause a logical path of the first logical group to use a first physical path which is different from a second physical path to be used by a logical path of the second logical group, based on the first ID and the second ID.