Load balancing in a distributed computer enterprise environment

摘要

A method of balancing loads during data distribution in a managed network environment wherein at least one gateway machine services a plurality of endpoints. System management tasks include data distributions, which are normally initiated at the gateway and distributed to all managed endpoints. Load balancing is achieved by setting a load parameter for each subnet of each network path between the gateway machine and an endpoint machine serviced thereby. The load parameter is selectable and identifies an amount of network bandwidth that may be used by a particular data distribution over the segment. Prior to initiating a distribution, the effective load that a given subnet will “see” when the operation begins is then calculated. If that effective load for any subnet exceeds that subnet's respective load parameter, the data distribution rate is altered for the overall network path. This technique effectively balances network loads and makes more efficient use of resources.