Patent ID: 8224976

Claim:
A network device connected between a client and a server, the network device comprising: a memory to store a plurality of records, one of the records including information associated with a capability of the server; and a processor, connected to the memory, to: determine, based on communication between the server and the client and during a first mode of operation of the network device, the information regarding the capability of the server, receive a synchronization (SYN) message, from the client, intended for the server, determine, based on receiving the SYN message, whether the network device comprises the first mode of operation or a second mode of operation, forward, when the network device comprises the first mode of operation, the SYN message to the server, when the network device comprises the second mode of operation, the processor being to: access the memory to obtain the information associated with the capability of the server based on receiving the SYN message, generate a SYN+acknowledgment (ACK) (SYN+ACK) message that includes the obtained information associated with the capability of the server, send the SYN+ACK message to the client, receive an ACK message from the client, determine whether the ACK message includes expected information that is based on the SYN+ACK message, and establish a connection between the client and the server when the ACK message includes the expected information.