Link Load Balancer Dynamic Path Redirection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Businesses face network vulnerabilities due to single link dependencies, with multi-site deployments and BGP multi-homing being costly and complex, leading to potential downtime and financial losses.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that enables a client device to manage network traffic by using a link load balancer (LLB) to redirect network packets through alternate paths based on availability and quality of connections, employing multiple physical connections and dynamic routing protocols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single link is used to connect to the public network, then device complexity and cost are reduced, but network reliability deteriorates due to single point of failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a link load balancer as an intermediary device that manages multiple physical network connections. The link load balancer receives client requests and dynamically routes them through available links to the server, eliminating the need for complex client-side multi-homing configurations while maintaining high network reliability through automatic failover and load distribution across multiple connections.
2Reliability
If multi-site deployment is implemented to address availability concerns, then network reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple geographically distributed sites into a single data center infrastructure. By consolidating server resources and using a link load balancer to manage multiple network connections from one location, businesses achieve the availability benefits of multi-site deployment without the operational complexity of managing distributed applications across multiple physical locations.
3Reliability
If BGP multi-homing is used to improve network availability, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and administrative overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The link load balancer implements automatic link selection and failover mechanisms without requiring manual BGP configuration or administrative intervention. The system continuously monitors link quality and availability, dynamically routing traffic through the best available path, and automatically recovering from failures without human involvement, thereby eliminating the administrative overhead associated with traditional BGP multi-homing.
Data Source
AI summary
A system, apparatus, and method are directed to managing network communications between a client and a server by enabling the client to make decisions involving the selection of alternate network paths. The client and/or the server may be multi-homed to a network. In one embodiment, a link load balancer provides the client with a message and/or path data that enables the client to improve its connections with the server by redirecting network packets using an alternate network path. The message may be based on a static policy at the server, changes in availability of the network connections between the client and server, changes in a quality of the network connections, paths, or the like. Redirecting the network packet by the client may include closing one network connection and establishing another network connection, and/or employing an available alternate network path to re-route network packets towards the server.