TCP offload device that load balances and fails-over between aggregated ports having different MAC addresses

摘要

TCP/IP traffic passing over a TCP connection is initially load balanced by a TCP offload network interface device (NID) in fast-path between multiple ports of an aggregation team. A failure then occurs on one of the ports. Processing of the TCP connection then switches to slow-path. The function of the failed port is then assumed by another functioning port of the team such that fast-path processing of the TCP connection by the TCP offload NID automatically resumes. The two ports of the TCP offload NID (the failed port and the port that assumes its functionality) use different MAC addresses. Fast-path load balancing and fail-over are therefore possible without the use of a Fast-Etherchannel switch that would have required the two ports to use the same MAC address.