Abstract: A method of managing servers in a server cluster is disclosed. The health of servers is detected through passive return traffic monitoring. Server failure can be detected through TCP information or HTTP return codes. Various settings affecting number of failure thresholds and the time period to detect failures can be configured. Servers can be mapped to URLs such that passive health monitoring can be performed for URLs instead of server clusters.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for regular expression matching, especially for, but not limited to high-speed applications such as in a packet switching system (e.g., a router). One implementation includes a matching mechanism for processing each character of a plurality of input characters to progressively generate keyword indications of matched keywords as matched keywords are identified, and for generating one or more matching indications of matched base expressions and non-keyword expressions. These indications are received by a matched regular expression detection mechanism which generates one or more matched regular expression indications based on said one or more keyword indications and said one or more matching indications. In one implementation, the matched regular expression detection mechanism maintains a keyword data structure, which is updated as matched keyword indications are received to ensure they are matched in a proper order.