Load balancing in a network with session information
US8776207B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 23, 2012 |
| Grant date | Jul 8, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 17, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L63/0272
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Methods and systems for balancing load among firewall security devices are provided. According to one embodiment, a switch maintains a session table the session entries of which represent established traffic sessions between a source and a destination and form an association between the traffic session and a particular firewall security device (FSD). Responsive to receiving a packet of a first traffic session on a first port, a determination is made whether there exists a matching session entry. Responsive to a negative determination, a load balancing function is performed to select an FSD with which to associate the first traffic session and a corresponding reverse second traffic session. After processing of the packet by the selected FSD and receipt of the packet at a second port, a session entry is installed within the session table for the second traffic session and which associates the selected FSD with the second traffic session.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.