Virtual home agent service using software-replicated home agents

A routing chassis processing packets for a plurality of mobile communications devices, comprising:

• an interface to a first network;
• two or more software-replicated home agents;
• and
• a means for demultiplexing a plurality of packets arriving from said first network at said first network interface and for forwarding said packets to said plurality of home agents in accordance with addresses contained in said packets.

A method of handing a registration request from a mobile communications device, comprising the steps of:

• providing a master home agent in a communications chassis, said master home agent comprising a plurality of software-replicated home agents;
• receiving a registration request from said mobile communications device at said communications chassis and forwarding said registration request to one of a plurality of software-replicated home agents in said communications chassis in accordance with an address in said registration request;
• generating a registration request authentication message in said one of said plurality of software replicated home agents;
• transmitting said registration request authentication message from said communications chassis to an accounting, authentication, and authorization (AAA) server;
• receiving a reply to said registration authentication message from said AAA server at said one of said plurality of software-replicated home agents;
• and
• forwarding a reply to said registration request message from said communications chassis to said mobile communications device.