ENABLING LOAD BALANCING IN A NETWORK VIRTUALIZATION OVERLAY ARCHITECTURE

摘要

A load balancing function is integrated into a Network Virtualization Edge NVE function. This load balancing function is configured by a Network Virtualization Authority NVA using a new protocol. The NVA can thus enable or disable the LB function for a given VN in a specific NVE. According to one example method the NVA receives (210) Virtual Machine VM configuration information from a VM orchestration system. Based on this information the NVA configures (220) an attached NVE to enable load balancing by sending an enable message to the NVE. The NVA subsequently receives (230) a confirmation message from the NVE indicating that the load balancing function is enabled. The NVA then updates (240) remote NVEs allowing load balancing traffic to be sent to the first NVE.