Patent ID: 6026425
Filing Date: 2000-02-15
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A load balancing method for a computer system in which plural processing nodes, whose performance or executable functions are not uniform, are connected to a logical ring network, wherein when each node processes a task input from a terminal using a task processing unit and returns a result to the terminal, the logical ring network logically transmits tasks in turn and in one direction, said load balancing method equally distributing loads of the entire system into the nodes in the system and comprising the steps of:estimating a load of a present node based on the number of tasks being or waiting to be processed and determining an estimated load value of the present node for each self-executable function of the node;accepting a task passing through the logical ring network, and every time a task is accepted, comparing the estimated load value and a threshold value, which is set with respect to the number of tasks existing in the node, to limit the load of the present node based on the performance or self-executable functions of the present node;judging, based on a result of the comparison, whether the accepted task is handed over to the task processing unit, or is transmitted to the logical ring network without handing over the task to the task processing unit;estimating load fluctuation of the entire system; andupdating the threshold value according to the estimated load fluctuation of the entire system and the estimated value of each self-executable function of the present node.