Method for determining a networking capability index for each of a plurality of networked computers and load balancing the computer network using the networking capability indices

摘要

A method for determining a networking capability index (NCI), which is representative of the load a computer applies to a computer network. The method includes selecting a group of packet sizes, measuring the capability of the computer to transmit packets of each of the selected sizes from the process application to the input/output kernel as a function of time, and determining a probability distribution for the selected packet sizes, wherein the probability distribution for a selected packet size is representative of the percentage of total traffic corresponding to the selected packet size. The method then determines the NCI by summing the product of each selected packet size times each corresponding throughput value times each corresponding probability distribution value. Also a method for load balancing a plurality of networked computers arranged in segments by determining the NCI for each of the networked computers, and selectively connecting the computers to have approximately equal combined NCI values for all segments.