Router Stateful Load Balancing Fastpath Filters
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional load balancing schemes introduce significant processing delays due to the need for remote load directors and processing packets in the slowpath, which is undesirable for efficiently distributing traffic across a network of servers.
Innovation Solution
A router equipped with stateful load balancing filters, including application filters, dynamic filters, and firewall filters, located on the dataplane (fastpath), which analyze and redirect incoming packets to lightly loaded servers, using periodic probes to assess server availability and implement custom server selection algorithms, thereby eliminating the need for remote load directors and reducing processing delays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a remote load director is used to distribute traffic across servers, then load balancing capability is improved, but processing delay increases significantly due to packet traversal between router and load director
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the load director functionality directly into the router device, merging previously separate functions (routing and load balancing) into a single integrated system. This eliminates the need for packets to traverse between separate router and load director devices, thereby resolving the contradiction by maintaining load balancing capability while eliminating the associated processing delay.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a fastpath processor as an intermediary component within the router that handles load balancing decisions locally. This intermediary enables the router to perform load balancing functions internally without external communication, resolving the time delay issue while preserving adaptability through intelligent packet analysis and server selection algorithms.
2Measurement precision
If packets are processed in the slowpath for load balancing decisions, then accurate server selection is achieved, but processing delay increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the packet processing path into two distinct components: a fastpath processor that handles load balancing decisions rapidly using cached server information, and a slowpath that remains available for complex processing when needed. This segmentation allows most packets to be processed quickly while maintaining the capability for accurate server selection through the fastpath's intelligent algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-calculating and caching server selection information in the fastpath processor. Server weights, capacities, and selection criteria are determined in advance and stored for rapid retrieval, enabling the system to make accurate server selection decisions without performing time-consuming calculations for each individual packet.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple filter types are implemented in the router, then functionality and security are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal filter processing architecture where a single filter manager coordinates multiple types of filters (access control filters, load balancing filters, firewall filters) through a common management interface. This multi-functional approach allows the router to perform diverse functions including security filtering, load balancing, and traffic management within a unified system, improving versatility without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter manager automatically manages the creation, modification, and coordination of multiple filter types without requiring external intervention for each filter configuration. The system self-services by autonomously handling filter rule generation, priority assignment, and conflict resolution, thereby improving functionality while minimizing the operational complexity burden on users.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
A router and method are described herein which distribute traffic/incoming packets across a network of servers by using stateful load balancing filters (e.g., application filter(s), dynamic filter(s), firewall filter(s)) which are located on a dataplane/fastpath.