Patent ID: 7962647
Filing Date: 2011-06-14
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method, performed by a processor, comprising: implementing load balancing for both incoming and outgoing network packets, the incoming network packets being directed to one or more virtual machines via a virtual network switch, the outgoing network packets being directed from the one or more virtual machines via the virtual network switch, the load balancing including; (a) monitoring receipt of the incoming and outgoing network packets, at least some of the network packets including control information relating to an application program and a software port associated with the application program, wherein the virtual network switch is connected or capable of being connected to one or more virtual network interface cards in the one or more virtual machines and wherein the application program is associated with one or more software ports; (b) selecting a connected virtual network interface card and a software port for the application program based at least in part on a load balancing algorithm, including applying the load balancing algorithm to both the incoming and outgoing network packets, wherein the load balancing algorithm depends at least in part on one or both of a rate of processing of network packets by the one or more virtual network interface cards and the rate of processing of network packets by the one or more software ports; and (c) on the basis of the load balancing algorithm, causing the virtual network switch to route the incoming and outgoing network packets to the selected virtual network interface card and the selected software port.