Stateful Flow Information Table Method and System for Packet Inspection System

摘要

A packet processing system comprises two packet inspection systems for tracking packet flows between a first network and a second network. A memory is accessible by each of the packet inspection systems for storing flow entries. Each of the flow entries includes a flow key characterizing a packet flow associated with flow entry, a flow identifier. State information is further maintained indicating ownership of the flow identifiers among the two packet inspection systems. Using stateful identifiers ensures that two packet processing systems do not become incoherent and properly indicate the status of free flow identifiers.