Abstract: In a preferred aspect of the present invention, a method for augmenting a hierarchy of layered applications and corresponding protocols can include applying a discrimination algorithm to a selection process in which a particular application/protocol layer in a listing of adjacent application/protocol layers is selected to receive traffic flowing through the hierarchy. A new application/protocol layer can be inserted adjacent to the particular application/protocol layer in the hierarchy. Also, the new application/protocol layer can be added to the listing. Finally, the discrimination algorithm can be replaced with another discrimination algorithm programmed to consider the new application/protocol layer during the selection process. Significantly, each of the steps of performing the inserting, adding and replacing steps can be performed without decoupling or disabling other applications and protocols in the hierarchy.

Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for facilitating load balancing in a server farm. In accordance with the invention, all of the information about each server necessary for a load balancing program to define and execute a load balancing algorithm is stored at a predetermined URL or each server. The load balancer can query the predefined URL, which returns the necessary information. The load balancer then dynamically configures the load balancing algorithm in accordance with the returned information.

Abstract: A method of processing a client packet from a client in a NAT (Network Address Translation & Port Mapping) system including a NAT machine and a plurality of servers. The method includes preparing a response packet responsive to the client packet, performing, by one of the servers, a translation operation on the response packet to produce a translated response packet, and transmitting the translated response packet from the server to the client, thereby bypassing the NAT machine. All subsequent response packets in the current connection can be translated and transmitted from the server directly to the client.