System and method for improved load balancing and high availability in a data processing system having an IP host with a MARP layer

A method of selecting a router by an IP host in a data transmission system transmitting packetized data from said IP host having at least an IP layer and a network layer to a plurality of workstations by an intermediary of an IP network, and wherein said IP host is coupled to said IP network via a layer 2 network interfacing said IP network by a set of routers, said method comprising the steps of:

• determining a list of candidate routers from said set of routers;
• determining a list of active candidate routers from said list of candidate routers, said list of active candidate routers determined before selecting, from said set of routers, said router to be used for transmitting said packetized data;
• and
• selecting said router to be used for transmitting said packetized data from said list of active candidate routers.

A computer program product embodied in a machine readable medium, including programming for selecting a router by an IP host in a data transmission system transmitting packetized data from said IP host having at least an IP layer and a network layer to a plurality of workstations by an intermediary of an IP network, and wherein said IP host is coupled to said IP network via a layer 2 network interfacing said IP network by a set of routers comprising a program of instruction for performing the steps of:

• determining a list of candidate routers from said set of routers;
• determining a list of active candidate routers from said list of candidate routers, said list of active candidate routers determined before selecting, from said set of routers, said router to be used for transmitting said packetized data;
• and
• selecting said router to be used for transmitting said packetized data from said list of active candidate routers.

An Internet Protocol (IP) network comprising:

• an IP host;
• a Local Area Network (LAN) coupled to the IP host;
• an IP network coupled to the LAN;
• a set of workstations coupled to the LAN via the IP network;
• said IP host further comprising:
• an IP layer;
• a network layer coupled to the IP network wherein said IP host is coupled to said IP network via a layer 2 network, said layer 2 network interfacing said IP network with a set of routers;
• and
• a Multiple Address Resolution Protocol (MARP) layer, said MARP layer between said IP layer and said network layer, said MARP layer operable for selecting one router of said set of routers in response to a next hop IP address provided by said IP layer to said MARP layer when a packet of data is to be transmitted from said IP host over said IP network;
• wherein said IP host is provided with an Address Resolution Protocol (ARP), said ARP operable to convert any IP address into a network address of a router to be used in said layer 2 network by mapping said IP address, in an ARP table into a network address of an active router selected from said set of routers;
• wherein said MARP layer includes, a MARP table mapping said next hop IP address into a list of IP addresses of routers, said router addresses indicating routers selectable from said set of candidate routers, said IP addresses of said routers being mapped in said ARP table indicating active candidate routers able to be used as routers for transmitting said packet of data from said IP host to one or more of said workstations via said IP network.