Using virtual network address information during communications

Abstract

Techniques are described for employing virtual network address information in communications with other computing devices or software programs. In some circumstances, the techniques are used by a computing device that hosts multiple virtual domains each having a distinct domain name and having one or more virtual users of the domain. If so, the host computing device communicates with others on behalf of the virtual domains or virtual users by employing virtual network address information as part of the communications.

1 . A method, in a computing device having a network address, for communicating with a remote computing device on behalf of at least one virtual computing device hosted by the computing device, the method comprising the steps of: 
 determining a virtual network address associated with the virtual computing device;    associating a first source network address of a first communication socket with the virtual network address; and    sending information to the remote computing device using the first communication socket.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 retrieving the virtual network address from a configuration file.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the associating step further comprises: 
 creating the first communication socket; and    binding the virtual network address to the first communication socket as a source network address of the first communication socket.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 receiving, from an application executing in the context of the virtual computing device, a request to send information to the remote computing device.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the virtual network address is an IP address.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the virtual network address is a domain name.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the the virtual network addresses are hosted by the computing device as a service to customers.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 sending information to the remote computing device using a second communication socket, a source network address of the second communication being associated with the network address of the computing device.    
     
     
         9 . A method, in a computing device having a network address, for communicating with a remote computing device on behalf of at least one virtual domain hosted by the computing device, the method comprising the steps of: 
 determining a virtual network address associated with the virtual domain;    configuring a first communication socket to use the virtual network address as a source network address;    sending information to the remote computing device using the first communication socket.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 retrieving the virtual network address from a configuration file.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the associating step further comprises: 
 creating the first communication socket; and    binding the virtual network address to the first communication socket as a source network address of the first communication socket.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 receiving, from an application executing in the context of the virtual computing device, a request to send information to the remote computing device.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 sending information to the remote computing device using a second communication socket, a source network address of the second communication being associated with the network address of the computing device.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the virtual network address is an IP address.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the the virtual network addresses are hosted by the computing device as a service to customers.  
     
     
         16 . A method, in a computing device having a network address, for communicating with a remote computing device on behalf of an application residing on the computing device, the application executing in the context of a virtual computing device, the method comprising the steps of: 
 retrieving, from the application, data to be sent to the remote computing device on behalf of the virtual computing device;    determining a virtual network address associated with the virtual computing device;    configuring a first communication socket to use the virtual network address as a source network address;    sending information to the remote computing device using the first communication socket.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 retrieving the virtual network address from a configuration file.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the associating step further comprises: 
 creating the first communication socket; and    binding the virtual network address to the first communication socket as a source network address of the first communication socket.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 receiving, from an application executing in the context of the virtual computing device, a request to send information to the remote computing device.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 sending information to the remote computing device using a second communication socket, a source network address of the second communication being associated with the network address of the computing device.