Patent ID: 8484702

Claim:
A method comprising: receiving, by a computer, a request from a network source to create a logical socket on a logical port of one or more logical ports; accessing, by the computer, a structure that indicates a plurality of logical socket allocation policies to select a first of the plurality of socket allocation policies that corresponds to the logical port, wherein each of the plurality of logical socket allocation policies governs logical socket allocation for one or more ports, wherein the logical allocation policies govern at least one of the number of logical sockets that are allocated to the one or more logical ports, a maximum number of logical sockets shared between a grouping of two or more of the one or more logical ports, and a maximum number of logical sockets for the computer; determining, by the computer, if the first logical socket allocation policy allows for allocation of the logical socket for the network source to communicate via the logical port, wherein said determining, by the computer, if the first logical socket allocation policy allows for allocation of the logical socket for the network source to communicate via the logical port further comprises determining, by the computer, if allocation of the logical socket will exceed a limit on a number of logical sockets to be allocated for the network source; and allocating, by the computer, a logical socket for the network source to communicate via the logical port if allowed by the first logical socket allocation policy.