Regional Firewall Clustering for Optimal State-Sharing in Networked Computing Environments

Strategic Insights -

Researchers from International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) have developed an approach for regional firewall clustering, which enables optimal state-sharing of different sites in a virtualized/networked computing environment. This technology is designed to mitigate the risks associated with malicious users attempting to communicate with other users' computers. The patent, filed on June 7, 2013, and published online on August 11, 2015, provides a method for managing a firewall cluster in a networked computing environment, comprising steps such as receiving a packet, reading a session state table, buffering the packet, and forwarding the packet to the destination when session state information is received.

Key Takeaways:

  • The patent provides an approach for regional firewall clustering for optimal state-sharing of different sites in a virtualized/networked computing environment.
  • The method involves a registration process with a centralized server, where each firewall informs its peers of its presence and opens up an IP-based communication channel to share state table information.
  • The firewall cluster is managed by a method comprising receiving a packet, reading a session state table, buffering the packet, and forwarding the packet to the destination when session state information is received.
  • The system for managing a firewall cluster in a networked computing environment includes a first firewall, a cluster synchronization server, and a computer program product for managing a firewall cluster.
  • The computer program product receives a packet, reads a session state table, buffers the packet, and forwards the packet to the destination when session state information is received.

Statistics:

  • The patent was filed on June 7, 2013.
  • The patent was published online on August 11, 2015.
  • The patent number is 9106610.
  • The patent is owned by International Business Machines Corporation (IBM).
  • The method for managing a firewall cluster involves the following steps: receiving a packet, reading a session state table, buffering the packet, and forwarding the packet to the destination when session state information is received.

Sources:

  • Floyd, III, Robert K.; Mandalia, Baiju D.; Monaco, Robert P.; Viswanathan, Mahesh. Regional Firewall Clustering in a Networked Computing Environment. U.S. Patent Number 9106610, filed June 7, 2013, and published online on August 11, 2015.
  • Patent URL: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=9106610.PN.&OS=PN/9106610RS=PN/9106610
  • Keywords: Technology Companies, International Business Machines Corporation.