Load balancing among a cluster of firewall security devices
US9825912B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 9, 2016 |
| Grant date | Nov 21, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 9, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L63/0272
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method for balancing load among firewall security devices (FSDs) is provided. According to one embodiment, a switching device performs adaptive load balancing among cluster units of an HA cluster of firewall security devices. A load balancing (LB) function implemented by the switching device is configured based on information received from a network administrator. A LB table is maintained that forms associations between hash values output by the LB function and corresponding ports of the switching device to which the cluster units are coupled. Network traffic received by the switching device is directed to appropriate cluster units based on the LB function and the LB table. A traffic load on each of the cluster units is monitored. Responsive to a deviation from a predefined ideal traffic distribution, an attempt is made to improve performance of the HA cluster by dynamically adjusting the LB balancing table to address the deviation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.