US 6,590,861 B1 · Combining virtual local area networks and load balancing with fault tolerance in a high performance protocol

Abstract

A method to send and receive data packets over a network of computer systems (e.g., a plurality of virtual local area networks [VLANs] compliant with the IEEE 802.1Q standard) using a server computer system adapted to have a plurality of network interface cards (NICs) coupled thereto. An outgoing data packet is addressed using a first media access control (MAC) address, wherein the first MAC address is a virtual MAC address representing the plurality of NICs. A NIC is selected from the plurality of NICs using a load balancing scheme. The functionality of the selected NIC is verified using a fault tolerance scheme. The first MAC address in the outgoing data packet is replaced with a second MAC address, wherein the second MAC address represents the selected NIC. The outgoing data packet is then transmitted using the selected NIC. For an incoming data packet received at one of the plurality of NICs, the existing MAC address in the incoming data packet is replaced with the first MAC address. Thus, the present embodiment of the present invention provides a high performance method that supports multiple VLANs and elegantly combines a load balance scheme and a fault tolerance scheme into a software element implemented on a server computer system.

Claims27

Dependent claims

In a server computer system adapted to have a plurality of network interface cards (NICs) coupled thereto, a method for sending and receiving data packets over a network of computer systems, said method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

a) addressing an outgoing data packet using a first media access control (MAC) address and a second MAC address, wherein said first MAC address is a virtual MAC address representing said plurality of NICs and wherein said second MAC address is a virtual MAC address corresponding to a virtual local area network (VLAN) that is a destination of said outgoing data packet;
b) selecting a first NIC from said plurality of NICs using a load balancing scheme;
c) verifying functionality of said first NIC using a fault tolerance scheme;
d) replacing said first MAC address in said outgoing data packet with a MAC address representing said first NIC and replacing said second MAC address in said outgoing data packet with an identifier corresponding to said VLAN;
and
e) sending said outgoing data packet using said first NIC.

3 more elements

A server-side computer system comprising:

a bus;
a processor coupled to said bus;
and
a computer-readable memory unit coupled to said bus;
said computer system adapted to have a plurality of network interface cards (NICs) coupled thereto;
said processor for performing a method for sending and receiving data packets over a network of computer systems, said method comprising the steps of:
a) addressing an outgoing data packet using a first media access control (MAC) address and a second MAC address, wherein said first MAC address is a virtual MAC address representing said plurality of NICs and wherein said second MAC address is a virtual MAC address corresponding to a virtual local area network (VLAN) that is a destination of said outgoing data packet;
b) selecting a first NIC from said plurality of NICs using a load balancing scheme;
c) verifying functionality of said first NIC using a fault tolerance scheme;
d) replacing said first MAC address in said outgoing data packet with a MAC address representing said first NIC and replacing said second MAC address in said outgoing data packet with an identifier corresponding to said VLAN;
and
e) sending said outgoing data packet using said first NIC.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Combining virtual local area networks and load balancing with fault tolerance in a high performance protocol

Life of this patent

Combining virtual local area networks and load balancing with fault tolerance in a high performance protocol

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims27