Computer data packet switching and load balancing system using a general-purpose multiprocessor architecture

A general-purpose multiprocessor computer system comprising:

• a plurality of network interfaces each adapted to be coupled to respective external networks for receiving and sending data packets to and from said external networks via a particular communication protocol;
• a plurality of processors including a first processor providing a control processor and remaining ones of said processor each providing data packet switching processors, said data packet switching processors each being coupled to each one of said plurality of network interfaces;
• and
• a main memory coupled to each of said plurality of processors, said control processor receiving raw load status data from said external networks and generating load distribution configuration data therefrom, said load distribution configuration data being stored in said main memory for access by said data packet switching processors, said switching processors routing received ones of said data packets to a selected one of said external networks in accordance with information included in a header portion of said data packets and said load distribution configuration data, wherein said switching processors further re-write said routing information included in said header portion of said data packets to reflect said selected one of said external networks.

A general-purpose multiprocessor computer system comprising:

• a plurality of network interfaces each adapted to be coupled to respective external networks for receiving and sending data packets to and from said external networks via a particular communication protocol;
• a plurality of processors including a first processor providing a control processor and remaining ones of said processor each providing data packet switching processors, said data packet switching processors each being coupled to each one of said plurality of network interfaces;
• and
• a main memory coupled to each of said plurality of processors, said control processor receiving raw load status data from said external networks and generating load distribution configuration data therefrom, said load distribution configuration data being stored in said main memory for access by said data packet switching processors, said switching processors routing received ones of said data packets to a selected one of said external networks in accordance with information included in a header portion of said data packets and said load distribution configuration data, wherein said switching processors further include a filter module having stored instructions to be executed by said switching processors, said stored instructions comprising the steps of:
• reading routing information from said header portion of said data packet,
• accessing said load distribution configuration data stored in said main memory,
• selecting said selected one of said external networks based on said routing information and said load distribution configuration data,
• modifying said data packet by re-writing said routing information to reflect said selected one of said external networks, and
• sending said modified data packet to one of said plurality of network interfaces corresponding to said selected one of said external networks.

In a general-purpose multiprocessor computer system comprising a plurality of symmetrical processors, a main memory shared by said plurality of processors, and a plurality of network interfaces each adapted to be coupled to respective external networks for receiving data packets therefrom and sending data packets thereto via a particular communication protocol, a method for operating said computer system comprises the steps of:

• configuring one of said plurality of processors as a control processor and remaining ones of said processors as data packet switching processors, said data packet switching processors each being coupled to each one of said plurality of network interfaces;
• providing load data regarding load status of said external networks;
• generating load distribution configuration data from said load data using said control processor and storing said load distribution configuration data in said main memory for access by said data packet switching processors;
• and
• routing received ones of said data packets using said switching processors to a selected one of said external networks in accordance with information included in a header portion of said data packets and said load distribution configuration data.

In a general-purpose multiprocessor computer system comprising a plurality of symmetrical processors, a main memory shared by said plurality of processors, and a plurality of network interfaces each adapted to be coupled to respective external networks for receiving data packets therefrom and sending data packets thereto via a particular communication protocol, a method for operating said computer system comprises the steps of:

• configuring one of said plurality of processors as a control processor and remaining ones of said processors as data packet switching processors, said data packet switching processors each being coupled to each one of said plurality of network interfaces;
• providing load data regarding load status of said external networks;
• generating load distribution configuration data from said load data using said control processor and storing said load distribution configuration data in said main memory for access by said data packet switching processors;
• reading routing information from said header portion of said data packet,
• accessing said load distribution configuration data stored in said main memory,
• selecting said selected one of said external networks based on said routing information and said load distribution configuration data,
• modifying said data packet by re-writing said routing information to reflects said selected one of said external networks, and
• sending said modified data packet to one of said plurality of network interfaces corresponding to said selected one of said external networks.

In a general-purpose multiprocessor computer system comprising a plurality of symmetrical processors, a main memory shared by said plurality of processors, and a plurality of network interfaces each adapted to be coupled to respective external networks for receiving data packets therefrom and sending data packets thereto via a particular communication protocol, a method for operating said computer system comprises the steps of:

• configuring one of said plurality of processors as a control processor and remaining ones of said processors as data packet switching processors, said data packet switching processors each being coupled to each one of said plurality of network interfaces;
• providing load data regarding load status of said external networks;
• generating load distribution configuration data from said load data using said control processor and storing said load distribution configuration data in said main memory for access by said data packet switching processors;
• re-writing routing information included in a header portion of said data packets by said switching processors to reflect a selected one of said external networks;
• and
• routing received ones of said data packets using said switching processors to said selected one of said external networks in accordance with said routing information included in said header portion of said data packets and said load distribution configuration data.