Patent ID: 6891839

Claim:
A network comprising: a first tier of forwarding agents coupled to a client via a network, wherein the client is operable to generate a request that includes a packet; a second tier of forwarding agents connected to a plurality of network devices; and a service manager configured to: receive the packet from a selected one of the forwarding agents included in the first tier of forwarding agents; send a first tier instruction to the selected forwarding agent included in the first tier of forwarding agents directing the selected forwarding agent to forward the packet to a selected one of a plurality of firewalls that is coupled to the first and second tiers of forwarding agents and that is assigned by the service manager, wherein the selected firewall forwards the packet on to a selected one of the forwarding agents in the second tier; receive the packet back from the selected forwarding agent in the second tier; and respond to receiving the packet by providing a second tier instruction for the selected forwarding agent in the second tier to forward the packet on to a selected one of the plurality of network devices.