Biased response to connection probe for load balancing

A computer readable medium containing instructions that when executed by at least one processor cause the at least one processor to perform operations for load balancing network traffic, the operations comprising:

• receiving at a particular server among a plurality of candidate servers, one of a plurality of probes sent from a client device to the plurality of candidate servers;
• interpreting, at the particular server, the received probe to recognize that the received probe is a precursor to a persistent connection between the particular server and the client device;
• determining that a prospective connection between the particular server and the client device would be sub-optimal;
• and
• transmitting a biased response from the particular server to the client device to discourage establishment of the persistent connection between the client device and the particular server.

A system for load balancing network traffic, the system comprising:

• at least one processor configured to:
• receive at a particular server among a plurality of candidate servers, one of a plurality of probes sent from a client device to the plurality of candidate servers;
• interpret, at the particular server, the received probe to recognize that the received probe is a precursor to a persistent connection between the particular server and the client device;
• determine that a prospective connection between the particular server and the client device would be sub-optimal;
• and
• transmit a biased response from the particular server to the client device to discourage establishment of the persistent connection between the client device and the particular server.

A method for load balancing network traffic, the method comprising:

• receiving at a particular server among a plurality of candidate servers, one of a plurality of probes sent from a client device to the plurality of candidate servers;
• interpreting, at the particular server, the received probe to recognize that the received probe is a precursor to a persistent connection between the particular server and the client device;
• determining that a prospective connection between the particular server and the client device would be sub-optimal;
• and
• transmitting a biased response from the particular server to the client device to discourage establishment of the persistent connection between the client device and the particular server.