Patent ID: 6424992
Filing Date: 2002-07-23
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
In a computer network including an encapsulated cluster of nodes, an affinity-based method for routing a plurality of client connections to one of a plurality of server nodes in the cluster, wherein a connection comprises at least one packet, said method comprising the steps of:communicating from the client to a router node, one or more packets associated with a first connection to be established with one of said plurality of server nodes in said cluster; routing the packets of said first connection to a first server from the client; storing state information about said first connection to said first server at said router; terminating said first connection; communicating from the client to the router node, one or more packets associated with a separate subsequent connection to be established with one of said plurality of server nodes in said cluster; and routing the packets of the subsequent connection from the same client to the first server having affinity with the client according to state information maintained by the router.