Patent ID: 7630368

Claim:
A method for routing packets, comprising: receiving an outbound packet issued by a first virtual machine, wherein the first virtual machine is associated with a first virtual network interface card, and wherein the first virtual machine and the first virtual network interface card are located on a host; determining a packet destination associated with the outbound packet; querying a routing table for a routing entry corresponding to the packet destination, wherein the routing table comprises: a first routing entry referencing an external host and a second routing entry referencing a second virtual machine, wherein the second virtual machine is associated with a second virtual network interface card, and wherein the second virtual machine and the second virtual network interface card are located on the host; if the routing entry corresponding to the packet destination is the first routing entry: passing the packet to the external host; and if the routing entry corresponding to the packet destination is the second routing entry: passing the packet to the second virtual machine, wherein the packet is transmitted through the first virtual network interface card to the second virtual network interface card before being delivered to the second virtual machine.