Patent ID: 7903557

Claim:
A method for balancing traffic load on a network, the method comprising: selecting one of a plurality of paths for a flow based on a load balancing algorithm, the paths including at least a first path and a second path, the first path corresponding to a first pair of endpoint addresses and including a first switch, and the second path corresponding to a second pair of endpoint addresses and including a second switch, the selecting comprising: determining a first average of an amount of data originated by an endpoint and passing through a first critical section, the first path includes the first critical section; determining a second average of an amount of data originated by the endpoint and passing through a second critical section, the second path includes the second critical section; if the first average is larger than the second average, selecting the second path; and if the second average is larger than the first average, selecting the first path; assigning the first pair of endpoint addresses to the flow if the first path is selected; and assigning the second pair of endpoint addresses to the flow if the second path is selected.