Distributed traffic controller for network data

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, the program product comprising:

• a recordable media;
• a plurality of computer-readable instructions executable by the computer to perform a method of operating a server computer of a plurality of server computers that comprise a front layer of server computers for controlling data traffic of a computer network, said plurality of server computers being members of a first subnet of network addresses over which network data traffic is sent and received, the method comprising:
• receiving network data traffic through a network interface that permits communication between the server computer and other server computers of said plurality of server computers;
• receiving a data request from a responding server computer of the first subnet, which data request was initially received at the responding server computer;
• identifying a server computer in the first subnet that will handle the data traffic associated with the data request and forwarding the data request to the identified server computer for handling;
• receiving a reply message from a server computer of the first subnet that is operating as a default reply node to a network computer of a second subnet that is responding to the data request;
• and
• forwarding the reply message to a server computer of the first subnet that will ensure symmetric routing of the data request and reply message with respect to the plurality of server computers of the first subnet.

A method of operating a server computer of a plurality of server computers that comprise a front layer of server computers for controlling data traffic of a computer network, said plurality of server computers being members of a first subnet of network addresses over which network data traffic is sent and received, the method comprising:

• receiving network data traffic through a network interface that permits communication between the server computer and other server computers of said plurality of server computers;
• communicating with the plurality of server computers state sharing information with a dynamic reconfiguration protocol that permits reassignment of any of a plurality of virtual network addresses to any of a plurality of primary network addresses among the front layer server computers and includes 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 said network data traffic;
• operating said server computer as an authoritative node of the first subnet to ensure symmetric routing of network data traffic to and from the first subnet, comprising:
• receiving a data request from a responding server computer of the first subnet, wherein the data request was initially received at the responding server computer;
• determining an authoritative node for responding to the data request;
• identifying a server computer in the first subnet that will handle the data traffic associated with the data request and forwarding the data request to the identified server computer for handling;
• receiving a reply message from a server computer of the first subnet that is operating as a default reply node to a network computer of said second subnet that is responding to the data request;
• and
• forwarding the reply message to a server computer of the first subnet that will ensure symmetric routing of the data request and reply message with respect to the plurality of server computers of the first subnet.

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, the program product comprising:

• a computer-readable media having recorded therein a plurality of computer-readable instructions executable by the computer to perform a method of operating a server computer of a plurality of server computers that comprise a front layer of server computers for controlling data traffic of a computer network, said plurality of server computers being members of a first subnet of network addresses over which network data traffic is sent and received, the method comprising:
• receiving network data traffic through a network interface that permits communication between the server computer and other server computers of said plurality of server computers;
• communicating with the plurality of server computers state sharing information with a dynamic reconfiguration protocol that permits reassignment of any of a plurality of virtual network addresses to any of a plurality of primary network addresses among the front layer server computers and includes 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 said network data traffic;
• operating said server computer as an authoritative node of the first subnet to ensure symmetric routing of network data traffic to and from the first subnet, comprising:
• receiving a data request from a responding server computer of the first subnet, wherein the data request was initially received at the responding server computer;
• determining an authoritative node for responding to the data request;
• identifying a server computer in the first subnet that will handle the data traffic associated with the data request and forwarding the data request to the identified server computer for handling;
• receiving a reply message from a server computer of the first subnet that is operating as a default reply node to a network computer of said second subnet that is responding to the data request;
• and
• forwarding the reply message to a server computer of the first subnet that will ensure symmetric routing of the data request and reply message with respect to the plurality of server computers of the first subnet.