Patent ID: 8271645
Filing Date: 2012-09-18
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for tracing network packets via a packet engine of an intermediary device that provides a client connection to a server via a plurality of transport layer connections, the method comprising: (a) receiving, by a packet engine of an intermediary device between a plurality of clients and one or more servers, a request to trace network packets based on a trace filter, the request comprising an expression for one of a virtual server name or a service name configured on the intermediary device; (b) evaluating, by the packet engine, one or more expressions of the trace filter to a packet of a first transport layer connection of a plurality of transport layer connections provided by the packet engine for network traffic between a client and a server; (c) storing, by the packet engine, the evaluation of the one or more expressions of the trace filter in association with the first transport layer connection; (d) identifying, by the packet engine, a second transport layer connection linked to the first transport layer connection through which network traffic traverses between the client and the server; and (e) storing, by the packet engine for the requested trace, trace information for a portion of network traffic of the first transport layer connection matching the stored evaluation of the one or more expressions of the trace filter and the matching portion of network traffic traversing the second transport layer connection.