Load Balancer Management via Universal API Translation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Managing disparate load balancers with different interfaces, hardware configurations, and protocols in a network environment is complex, requiring different control commands and often necessitating custom programming for each device, which complicates scalable and redundant server management.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a universal application program interface (API) that provides communication with various load balancer interfaces, allowing for a unified instruction set to be translated and executed across different load balancers, with a Web-based service for management and a graphical user interface for user interaction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple disparate load balancers from different manufacturers are used to create scalable and redundant server environments, then system scalability and redundancy are improved, but device complexity and difficulty of management increase due to different interfaces and control commands

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovescalabilityVSAvoidmanagement complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal load balancer interface that can manage multiple disparate load balancers from different manufacturers through a single standardized interface. This interface translates standardized management commands into manufacturer-specific protocols, allowing one management system to control diverse load balancer devices without requiring separate management systems for each manufacturer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary translation layer between the standardized management interface and the manufacturer-specific load balancer interfaces. This intermediary component receives standardized commands, translates them into appropriate manufacturer-specific protocols, and manages the communication between the unified management system and diverse load balancer devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If custom programming is developed for each load balancer interface to achieve precise control, then control precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to the need for specialized programming knowledge

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol precisionVSAvoidease of management

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The standardized load balancer interface provides universal control capabilities across different manufacturers through a common command set. This interface maintains control precision by translating standardized commands into manufacturer-specific protocols while presenting a unified, easy-to-use interface to operators without requiring knowledge of proprietary protocols.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a standardized copy of load balancer control interfaces that replicates the essential control functions across different manufacturers. This standardized interface copy allows operators to use consistent commands and procedures regardless of which manufacturer's load balancer is being managed, eliminating the need for custom programming for each device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple different load balancer interfaces and protocols are supported, then adaptability to diverse systems is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for multiple interface implementations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterface compatibilityVSAvoidinterface complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a translation intermediary layer that sits between the standardized management interface and the diverse manufacturer-specific interfaces. This intermediary automatically translates standardized commands into the appropriate manufacturer-specific protocols, eliminating the need to implement and maintain multiple separate interface implementations while preserving broad compatibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The standardized load balancer interface is designed to universally manage multiple disparate load balancers from different manufacturers through a single interface implementation. This universal interface handles protocol translation and device-specific variations internally, providing broad interface compatibility without requiring the management system to maintain multiple separate interface implementations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS7590989B2Load balancer management

Publication Date: 2009.09.15 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

Load balancer management is described herein. In one implementation a load balancer system includes servers for hosting content on a network site, disparate load balancers that manage the servers to substantially balance data communications across the servers, and a load balancer management service which includes an application program interface (API) that provides for universal communication with the different interfaces of the disparate load balancers. Each of the disparate load balancers may be controlled via a different interface. The API is configured to receive an instruction set to manage the disparate load balancers, and to communicate the instruction set as translated instruction sets to each of the disparate load balancers via the respective different interfaces. The load balancer management service can be implemented as a Web-based service.