Internet Protocol (IP) Address Virtualization for Terminal Server Sessions

Abstract

Techniques are disclosed for virtualizing internet protocol (IP) addresses in terminal server sessions. Techniques include receiving requests for a virtual IP address from a client component, determining whether the requestor can use the virtual IP address, and either returning a requested virtual IP address or returning an indication that the requestor cannot use a virtual IP address. Methods for determining whether a virtual IP address can be used and methods for choosing a virtual IP address are disclosed.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method for virtualizing internet protocol (IP) addresses in terminal server sessions, comprising:
 receiving a request from a requestor for a virtual IP address;   determining whether the requestor can use a virtual IP address; and   in response to determining that a virtual IP address can be used, sending a requested virtual IP address to the requestor when the requestor can use a virtual IP address.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 in response to determining that a virtual IP address cannot be used, sending an indication that the requestor cannot use a virtual IP address to the requestor.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining whether the requestor can use a virtual IP address includes:
 attempting to retrieve an IP route entry for a best route to a destination IP address corresponding to the request.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining whether the requestor can use a virtual IP address includes:
 determining whether the requestor corresponds to a service process or determining whether the requestor corresponds to a system process.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining whether the requestor can use a virtual IP address includes:
 determining that the requestor cannot use a virtual IP address when the requestor is included in an exclude list, the exclude list comprising applications that cannot use a virtual IP address.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 pre-allocating a pool of addresses comprising at least one virtual IP address; and   wherein the pool of addresses comprises the requested virtual IP address.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 selecting the requested virtual IP address via a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP).   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 generating a media access control (MAC) address that comprises a session ID;   sending the MAC address to a DHCP server in a request for a virtual IP address; and   receiving the virtual IP address from the DHCP server.   
     
     
         9 . A system for virtualizing internet protocol (IP) addresses in terminal server sessions, comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory communicatively coupled to the processor when the system is operational, the memory bearing processor-executable instructions that, upon execution by the processor, cause the system to at least:
 receiving a request from a requestor for a virtual IP address; 
 determining whether the requestor can use a virtual IP address; and 
 in response to determining that a virtual IP address can be used, requested virtual IP address to the requestor when the requestor can use a virtual IP address. 
   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the memory further bears processor-executable instructions that, upon execution by the processor, cause the system to at least:
 in response to determining that a virtual IP address cannot be used, sending an indication that the requestor cannot use a virtual IP address to the requestor.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the instructions that cause the determining whether the requestor can use a virtual IP address includes causing the system to at least:
 attempting to retrieve an IP route entry for a best route to a destination IP address corresponding to the request.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the instructions that cause the determining whether the requestor can use a virtual IP address includes causing the system to at least:
 determining whether the requestor corresponds to a service process or determining whether the requestor corresponds to a system process.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the instructions that cause the determining whether the requestor can use a virtual IP address includes causing the system to at least:
 determining that the requestor cannot use a virtual IP address when the requestor is included in an exclude list, the exclude list comprising applications that cannot use a virtual IP address.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the memory further bears processor-executable instructions that, upon execution by the processor, cause the system to at least:
 pre-allocating a pool of addresses comprising at least one virtual IP address; and   wherein the pool of addresses comprises the requested virtual IP address.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the memory further bears processor-executable instructions that, upon execution by the processor, cause the system to at least:
 selecting the requested virtual IP address via a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP).   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the memory further bears processor-executable instructions that, upon execution by the processor, cause the system to at least:
 generating a media access control (MAC) address that comprises a session ID;   sending the MAC address to a DHCP server in a request for a virtual IP address; and   receiving the virtual IP address from the DHCP server.   
     
     
         17 . A method for virtualizing internet protocol (IP) addresses in terminal server sessions, comprising:
 receiving a request from a requestor for a virtual IP address;   determining whether the requestor can use a virtual IP address;   determining a first virtual IP address that is operable for the requestor;   sending the first virtual IP address to the requestor when the requestor can use a virtual IP address; and   sending an indication that the requestor cannot use a virtual IP address to the requestor when the requestor cannot use a virtual IP address.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 pre-allocating a pool of addresses comprising at least one virtual IP address; and   wherein the pool of addresses comprises the first virtual IP address.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 selecting the first virtual IP address via a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP).   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 generating a media access control (MAC) address that comprises a session ID;   sending the MAC address to a DHCP server in a request for an IP address; and   receiving an IP address from the DHCP server as the first virtual IP address.