Patent ID: 7093002
Filing Date: 2006-08-15
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A load balancing device for balancing the load across a plurality of proxy devices arranged to perform malware scanning of files stored within a file storage device of a computer network, the computer network having a plurality of client devices arranged to issue access requests using a dedicated file access protocol to the file storage device in order to access files stored on the file storage device, the load balancing device being arranged so as to intercept access requests issued to the file storage device, and comprising: a client interface for receiving an access request issued to the file storage device using the dedicated file access protocol; load balancing logic for applying a predetermined load balancing routine to determine to which proxy device to direct that access request; and a proxy device interface for sending the access request to the proxy device determined by the load balancing logic, each proxy device being coupled to the file storage device; wherein said proxy devices are arranged to perform said malware scanning of files stored within the file storage device, and the load balancing device determines to which of said plurality of proxy devices to direct any particular access request; wherein each proxy device comprises; wherein, upon receipt of an access request, the processing logic is arranged to determine from the access request predetermined attributes, and to send those predetermined attributes to the file storage device to enable the file storage device to perform a validation check, the processing logic only allowing the access request to proceed if the file storage device confirms that the client device is allowed to access the file identified by the access request; wherein the proxy device comprises a user cache utilized for storing the predetermined attributes; wherein a file cache is arranged only to store files which have been determined not to be considered as malware.