The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 22, 2013
Filed:
Dec. 22, 2012
Fortinet, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Bert H. Tanaka, Saratoga, CA (US);
Daniel J. Maltbie, Menlo Park, CA (US);
Joseph R. Mihelich, Folsom, CA (US);
Fortinet, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Abstract
Methods and systems for performing load balancing within an Ethernet network are provided. According to one embodiment, a set of virtual networks, into which a network has been logically divided that can be used by a first component is maintained. Each of the virtual networks is a loop-free switching path, reverse path learning network and provides a path through the network between the first component and a second component. A packet destined for the second component is received by the first component. On a packet-by-packet basis or on a per flow basis, the first component dynamically selects a particular path by selecting a virtual network for transporting the received packet that tends to balance traffic load across the virtual networks. The first component causes the received packet to be transported through the network to the second component via the particular path.