US Patent 7372813 Virtual load balancing across a network link

Information is directed across the same corresponding virtual channels in both a first network switch and a second network switch. As a result, any congestion in the second network switch results only in packet dropping associated with the particular congested virtual channel. However, information continues to move across the remaining uncongested virtual channels. As a result, even if congestion occurs in the second network switch, information continues to flow across the single network link between the first and second network switches, i.e., the single network link is not shut down.