Technique for optimized routing of data streams on an IP backbone in a computer network

摘要

A technique optimizes routing of application data streams on an Internet Protocol (IP) backbone in a computer network. According to the novel technique, a client router learns of server states (e.g., number of pending requests, etc.) of a plurality of application servers and also determines metrics of intermediate links between the application servers and the client router (intermediate link metrics), e.g., particularly link metrics in a direction from the application servers to the client router. Upon receiving an application request from an application client (“client request”), the client router determines to which of the application servers the client request is to be sent based on the server states and intermediate link metrics, and sends the client request accordingly.

主权项

1. An apparatus comprising:
means for learning server states for each of a plurality of application servers that serve application content, each server state descriptive of load upon a respective one of the plurality of application servers; wherein the server states are selected from a group consisting of: a number of pending requests at an application server, a number of active connections at an application server, a current processor load of an application server, a current memory load of an application server, and a current utilized bandwidth of an application server; means for computing a reverse shortest path tree (SPT) from each application server to a client router as a root; means for receiving an application request from an application client at the client router, the application request requesting application content be provided to the application client; means for determining to which of the plurality of application servers the application request from the application client is to be sent based on a combination of the server states and reverse SPTs; and means for sending the application request to the determined application server.