A METHOD FOR IMPLEMENTING A CONSISTENT HASHING IN A COMMUNICATION NETWORK

A method for use in a communication network is provided. The method comprises the steps of: (i) providing a plurality of network processing units (NPU's) comprised in the communication network; (ii) establishing a replication of at least one of the NPU's; (iii) virtually arranging the NPU's and the replication(s) in a ring configuration; (iv) associating a unique primary virtual identification and a corresponding unique backup virtual identification with each active and available entity selected from among the plurality of NPU's and replication(s); (v) establishing a list of hash values, each associated with the primary virtual identification or the backup virtual identification of a corresponding active and available entity; (vi) implementing a ring consistent hashing algorithm for carrying out a search resolution for a consistent hashing; and (vii) in a case of a change in an active and available entity having a certain primary virtual identification, using the corresponding backup virtual identification to maintain the ring continuity.