Patent ID: 8908700
Filing Date: 2014-12-09
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of an intermediary for interfacing a network optimization engine accelerating network communications at a first network layer of a network stack with a security gateway applying policies at a second network layer above the first network layer, the method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving, by a network optimization engine operating at a first network layer of a network stack of an intermediary device, a network packet from a source, the network packet comprising a media access control address identifying a destination for the network packet; (b) determining, by the network optimization engine, whether a source media access control address of the network packet identifies that an adapter type of the source is one of a physical network interface card or a local stack, the source media access control address identifying a first network interface card; (c) modifying, by the network optimization engine in response to the determination, the destination media access control address of the network packet to identify a network interface of the intermediary device; (d) receiving, by a security gateway operating at a second network layer of the network stack of the intermediary device, the network packet communicated by the network optimization engine, the second network layer comprising a layer of the network stack of the intermediary device above the first network layer; (e) applying, by the security gateway, one or more policies to the network packet; (f) receiving, by the network optimization engine, the network packet communicated by the security gateway via the network stack of the intermediary device; (g) modifying, by the network optimization engine, the destination media access control address of the network packet to identify the media access control address of the destination; and (h) transmitting, by the intermediary device, the network packet to the destination via a second network interface card of the intermediary device.