Load balancing SCTP associations using VTAG mediation

摘要

Presented is a system and methods for routing Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP) between a client and a back-end server by a front-end server operating transparently between the client and the back-end server. The front-end server uses a distribution key created by the front-end server to route the SCTP packets to the proper destination. The distribution key is comprised of a client SCTP port number, a back-end server SCTP port number and a back-end server Initiate-Tag. The front-end server arbitrates clashes between distribution keys of different back-end servers by replacing the back-end server generated SCTP Initiate-Tag with a front-end server generated SCTP Initiate-Tag.