Patent ID: 8285881
Filing Date: 2012-10-09
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A server system, comprising: a plurality of processors; a first network interface card (NIC); a second NIC having same layer 3 (L3) address as the first NIC, wherein the plurality of processors, the first NIC and the second NIC are part of a host; a first network switch coupled to the first NIC, the first network switch receiving the incoming traffic flow destined for the second NIC in accordance with a spanning tree protocol, the first network switch sending the incoming traffic flow to the second NIC through a second network switch; and the second network switch being coupled to the host via the second NIC and being coupled to the first network switch through a dedicated switch-to-switch link, the first network switch being coupled to the host through the first NIC and being coupled to the host through the second network switch and the second NIC, the second network switch being coupled to the host through the second NIC, wherein the first network switch determines whether the incoming traffic flow is destined for the first NIC or is destined for the second network switch, wherein the first NIC or the second NIC performs L4 offloading and L5 offloading, wherein the first NIC or the second NIC performs L4 load balancing and L5 load balancing based on a flow type, the L4 load balancing or the L5 load balancing being substantially matched to processing power of one or more of the processors of the host, a bandwidth of the first NIC or the second NIC, and a bandwidth of the first network switch or the second network switch, wherein the first NIC, the second NIC, the first network switch and the second network switch are part of an L4-LBFO zone in an administratively controlled environment, wherein the first NIC or the second NIC is configured to process first packets using some L4 header information and some L4 state information or some L5 header information and some L5 state information, wherein the first NIC or the second NIC stores some of the L4 state information or some of the L5 state information for offloaded connections, wherein the first NIC and the second NIC are configurable to split TCP port space and for teaming, and wherein the server system is operable to provide dynamic assignment of flows in order that an optimal choice of a processor of the plurality of processors is used with an optimal choice of a NIC of the first NIC and the second NIC.