Patent ID: 8683033
Filing Date: 2014-03-25
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. An apparatus to failover to a standby server when a primary server is under broadcast storm or denial-of-service (“DoS”) attack, the apparatus comprising: a primary attack sensing module configured to monitor a rate of incoming data from a computer network to a primary server and to determine if the rate of incoming data is above a primary data rate threshold, the primary server comprising a first processor executing a first operating system; a standby contact module configured to request a standby data rate status from a standby server in response to the primary attack module determining that the rate of incoming data to the primary server is above the primary data rate threshold, the standby server connected to the primary server over a private network, the standby data rate status comprising a determination by the standby server of whether a rate of data received by the standby server is above a standby data rate threshold, the standby server configured to become a primary server, the standby server comprising a second processor executing a second operating system; a standby receiver module configured to receive a standby data rate status from the standby server over the private network; and a switchover module configured to deactivate the primary server as primary and to send a command to activate the standby server as primary in response to the received standby data rate status indicating that the rate of data received by the standby server has not exceeded the standby data rate threshold, wherein the primary server remains operational after the primary server is deactivated as primary; wherein the primary attack sensing module, the standby contact module, the standby receiver module and the switchover module comprises one or more of logic hardware and executable code stored on one or more non-transitory computer readable storage device and executed by a processor comprised in said apparatus; and wherein the standby server determines whether the rate of data received by the standby server is above a standby data rate threshold in the same manner as the primary attack sensing module determines if a rate of data received by the primary server is above the primary data rate threshold.