Distributed server cluster for controlling network traffic

A program product for use in a computer that executes program steps recorded in a computer-readable media to perform a method of operating the computer for controlling data traffic of a computer network the:

• program product comprising:
• a recordable media;
• computer-readable instructions recorded on the recordable media, comprising instructions executable by the computer to perform a method comprising:
• receiving network data traffic through a network interface that permits communication between the server computer and other computers;
• communicating with a plurality of server computers that are all members of a first subnet of network addresses over which network data is sent and received, through a front layer of servers, wherein the communication includes state sharing information with a dynamic configuration protocol that permits reassignment of network addresses among the front layer servers and specifies state information sharing and load information sharing among the front layer servers;
• communicating with a plurality of network computers that are members of a second subnet of network addresses to send and receive network data traffic;
• determining if the data traffic is associated with a previous network communication session of an original server computer of the first subnet, prior to a network address reassignment for the original server computer;
• responding to data traffic not associated with the previous network communications session of an original server computer by processing the data traffic;
• and
• responding to data traffic that is associated with the previous network communication session with an original server computer by checking a record of network address assignments and identifying the original server computer associated with the previous network communications session and forwarding the data traffic to the identified original server computer.

A network server computer comprising:

• a network interface that permits communication between the server computer and other computers;
• a distributed server application executed by the server computer that thereby permits the server computer to communicate with a plurality of server computers that are all members of a first subnet of network addresses over which network data is sent and received, through a front layer of servers, wherein the communication includes state sharing information with a dynamic reconfiguration protocol that permits reassignment of network addresses among the front layer servers and specifies state information sharing and load information sharing among the front layer servers, and permits the server computer to communicate with a plurality of network computers that are members of a second subnet of network addresses to send and receive network data traffic and determine if the data traffic is associated with a previous network communication session of an original server computer of the first subnet, prior to a network address reassignment for the original server computer;
• respond to data traffic not associated with the previous network communications session of an original server computer by processing the data traffic;
• and
• respond to data traffic that is associated with the previous network communication session with an original server computer by checking a record of network address assignments and identifying the original server computer associated with the previous network communications session and forwarding the data traffic to the identified original server computer.