Load balancing

A method for managing a computer network having a device connected to the Internet through a plurality of routes, wherein the plurality of routes are assigned with respective IP addresses, comprising:

• receiving a DNS resolution query from a remote computer for a domain name within the computer network;
• selecting one of a plurality of routes connecting said device to the Internet in accordance with one or more criteria of the plurality of routes;
• responding to the DNS resolution query with an IP address associated with the selected route, said IP address is used for resolution of said domain name,
• receiving a packet having a destination IP address corresponding to one of the plurality of routes;
• and
• translating the destination IP address to an IP address within the computer network.

A method for routing data via a network from a first node to a second node, said network having a plurality of available routes from said first node to said second node and the plurality of routes are assigned with respective IP addresses, said method comprising the steps of:

• selecting one of said routes for sending data between the first node and the second node on the basis of costing information of said respective routes;
• receiving a packet having a source IP address;
• and
• translating the source IP address to an IP address corresponding to the selected route of the plurality of routes.

A method for routing data by a content routing system from a first node to a second node via a network and comprising the steps of:

• providing a plurality of available routes from said first node to said second node, wherein the plurality of routes are assigned respective IP addresses;
• selecting one of said routes for sending data between said first node and said second node on the basis of costing information of said routes;
• and
• translating the source IP address of a packet from the first node to an IP address corresponding to the selected route of the plurality of routes.

A system for managing a computer network connected to the Internet through a plurality of routes, wherein the plurality of routes are assigned with respective IP addresses, comprising:

• a proximity analyzer connected to the Internet through the plurality of routes and determining proximities of remote computers via the plurality of routes;
• a network controller receiving a DNS resolution query from a remote computer for a domain name within a computer network, selecting one of a plurality of routes based on the proximity determination, and responding to the DNS resolution query with an IP address associated with the selected route, said IP address is used for resolution of said domain name;
• and
• a network address translator for receiving a packet having a destination IP address corresponding to one of the plurality of routes and translating the destination IP address to an IP address within the computer network.

A device for managing a computer network, said computer network comprising at least one router, each router supporting one or more routes for connecting to the Internet, said device capable of connecting to the Internet through a plurality of routes, wherein the plurality of routes are assigned with respective IP addresses, comprising:

• a network controller receiving a DNS resolution query from a remote computer for a domain name within the computer network, said network controller selecting one of the plurality of routes connecting said device to the Internet through a router supporting the selected route, and said network controller responding to the DNS resolution query with an IP address associated with the selected route, said IP address is used for resolution of said domain name,
• wherein said network controller receives a packet having a destination IP address corresponding to one of the plurality of routes;
• and
• the device further comprising a network address translator translating the destination IP address to an IP address within the computer network.

A system for managing a computer network having at least one router, each router supporting one or more routes for connecting to the Internet, said computer network capable of connecting to the Internet through a plurality of routes, wherein the plurality of routes are assigned with respective IP addresses, comprising:

• a proximity analyzer connected to the Internet through the plurality of routes and determining proximities of remote computers via the plurality of routes;
• a network controller receiving a DNS resolution query from a remote computer for a domain name within a computer network, said network controller selecting one of a plurality of routes based on the proximity determination, said selected route for connecting the computer network to the Internet through a router supporting the selected route, and said network controller responding to the DNS resolution query with an IP address associated with the selected route, said IP address is used for resolution of said domain name;
• and
• a network address translator for receiving a packet having a destination IP address corresponding to one of the plurality of routes and translating the destination IP address to an IP address within the computer network.