Abstract: A system for distributing network traffic to multiple traffic management devices. A distributor receives each packet from a network and may act as a layer 2 switch, a router, or distribute the packet to one of a group of traffic management devices. The distributor may receive packets from servers that the traffic management devices are managing communications to. When distributing packets to traffic management devices, information such as source and destination addresses may be used to determine which traffic management device each packet should be sent to. The distributor causes packets that are part of a flow to be delivered to the same traffic management device.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 1, 2006
Date of Patent:
April 13, 2010
Assignee:
F5 Networks, Inc.
Inventors:
Carlton G. Amdahl, Robert George Gilde, David D. Schmitt, Paul Szabo, Richard R. Masters