Method and apparatus for transaction routing in a connection-oriented packet network using a non-fault-tolerant directory server

A system for routing data packets within a packet network, comprising:

• a first node in a connection-oriented packet network having a plurality of nodes, said node being enabled for:
• receiving a data message from an originating node in the network;
• determining a destination node for said data message based on information in the message, the information in the message including a node identifier for said originating node and a first request for translation;
• translating an address for said destination node to a first network routable ATM address based on said first translation request;
• selecting a network routing path to said destination node based on said first routable ATM address;
• routing said data message to said destination node, the destination node formulating and sending out a response message to said data message, the response message including the node identifier for said originating node, another node identifier for the destination node, and a second request for translation;
• a second node in the network, said second node being enabled for:
• receiving said response message;
• determining said originating node based on said node identifier for the originating node;
• translating an address for said originating node to a second network routable ATM address;
• selecting a network routing path based on said second routable ATM address based on said second translation request;
• and
• routing said response message to said originating node.