Method and apparatus for redirecting network traffic

A first computer system and operable to facilitate redirection of data sent from a second computer system to a third computer system, the traffic being redirected to a selected traffic handling system, the computer system comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• a processor coupled to the memory,
• wherein at least one of the memory and the processor are adapted to provide:
• receiving traffic information from each of a plurality of traffic handling systems, wherein the traffic information received from each traffic handling system specifies which data based on at least a portion of the data should be redirected to the each traffic handling system;
• communicating the received traffic information to at least a designated one of the traffic handling systems;
• receiving traffic redirection information from the designated traffic handling system, the traffic redirection information specifying which data is to be redirected to which one of the plurality of traffic handling systems and being based on the communicated traffic information;
• receiving data from one or more second computer systems that are destined for one or more third computer systems;
• and
• redirecting the received data to selected one or more of the traffic handling systems so that the redirected data is apportioned between the traffic handling systems based on the traffic information from each of the traffic handling systems and at least a portion of the received data.