Load balancing hash computation for network switches
US8614950B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 29, 2011 |
| Grant date | Dec 24, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 28, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L47/41
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Techniques to load balance traffic in a communication network include a network switch or device having an interface to receive a data unit or packet. The network device includes a hash value generator configured to generate a symmetric key from an initial key that is based on the packet, and configured to generate a hash value based on the symmetric key and the packet. The hash value may be optionally modified to load balance egress traffic of the network device. The network device selects an egress link or port, such as by determining an index into an egress table based on the (modified) hash value. The techniques described herein allow packets or data units of a particular flow to travel in both directions along a same path through the communication network.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.