Single Device Bidirectional Firewall Load Balancing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network environments face challenges in efficiently load balancing firewalls to manage bidirectional traffic, often requiring multiple devices and increasing complexity and cost.
Innovation Solution
A single device with virtual switches and/or virtual routers is used to control both incoming and outgoing traffic, operating independently with separate routing tables and protocols to efficiently manage bidirectional traffic across firewalls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple physical devices are used for bidirectional load balancing, then traffic handling capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the functions of multiple physical devices into a single device by implementing both first and second virtual routers within one physical device. This single device performs bidirectional load balancing for both incoming and outgoing traffic, eliminating the need for separate physical devices while maintaining full traffic handling capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The single physical device is designed to perform multiple functions: it implements both first virtual router functionality (for incoming traffic load balancing) and second virtual router functionality (for outgoing traffic load balancing). This multi-functional approach allows one device to replace what traditionally required multiple specialized devices.
2Productivity
If multiple physical devices are used for bidirectional load balancing, then traffic handling capability is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates multiple device functions into a single physical device, reducing the total quantity of hardware required. By implementing both virtual routers in one device, the organization purchases and maintains fewer physical units, directly reducing cost while preserving full bidirectional load balancing capability.
3Device complexity
If a single device is used for bidirectional load balancing, then device complexity is reduced, but traffic handling capability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the single physical device into distinct virtual routers (first virtual router and second virtual router) that operate independently. Each virtual router handles specific traffic directions with separate routing tables and protocols, allowing the single device to manage complex bidirectional load balancing without compromising traffic handling capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a physical dimension (multiple separate devices) to a virtual dimension (multiple virtual routers within one device). This dimensional shift allows the system to maintain the functional separation and capability of multiple devices while physically consolidating into a single unit, thus reducing physical complexity without sacrificing traffic handling capability.
4Reliability
If multiple physical devices are used, then load balancing reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains functional segmentation through separate virtual routers with independent routing tables and protocols, preserving the reliability benefits of distributed load balancing logic. However, since all virtual routers reside within a single managed device, configuration and operation become simpler compared to coordinating multiple separate physical devices.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for load balancing a plurality of entities, such as firewalls, in a network environment are disclosed. In particular, the load balancing of firewalls on a bidirectional traffic path is performed using a single device that controls both incoming and outgoing traffic through the firewalls. The single device may include virtual routers for controlling the bidirectional traffic through the firewalls. A first virtual router may control incoming traffic to the firewalls and the other virtual router may control outgoing traffic to the firewalls. The virtual routers are logical partitions of the device layered on the physical resources of the device. The virtual routers share all or portions of the physical resources of the single device.