Patent ID: 7480720

Claim:
A method implemented in hardware for load balancing a remote booting process for a plurality of switch modules in a server system, the server system including a plurality of servers, the method comprising: a) assigning each of the plurality of servers to a switch module of the plurality of switch modules, such that a number of servers assigned to each of the plurality of switch modules is substantially equal, a server accessing the switch module during a remote boot; a′) storing a switch assignment; and (a1) determining whether a server must be assigned to a switch module by examining the server's non-volatile storage; (a2) accessing a switch assignment table to determine which of the plurality of switch modules to assign to the server if the server must be assigned; and wherein the accessing step comprises (a2i) utilizing the switch assignment table to evaluate a present load distribution across the plurality of switch modules, and (a2ii) assigning the server to the next switch module if the number of servers assigned to a current switch module is greater than the number of servers assigned to a next switch module; b) storing for each server a switch assignment in the server's non-volatile storage, wherein the switch assignment identifies the assigned switch module.