Hash-Based Load Balancing in Large Multi-Hop Networks with Randomized Seed Selection

摘要

Methods and apparatus for improving hash-based load balancing with randomized seed selection are disclosed. The methods and apparatus described herein increase the number of unique fields in a hash key before the hash key is presented to a hash function. The methods include selecting one or more seed values based the output of a first arbitrary function having a first set of packet fields as input. The one or more seed values are combined with a second set of packet fields. A second arbitrary function generates a hash value based on the one or more seed values and the second set of packet fields. The hash value is applied as input to a hash function in a member selection module. The method enables per flow randomization attributes based on per packet attributes to perform aggregate member selection while remaining deterministic from a root-node or network perspective.