Securing an access provider

A networking device, other than an access providing host that assigns resources responsive to inbound access requests, comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory encoded with machine readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, operate to cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
• observing information identifying a requestor based on receipt of the requestor's submission of an access request to a first access providing host;
• accessing stored information identifying previous requestors, of the first access providing host as well as of other access providing hosts, that are determined to have submitted a previous access request that has timed out prior to submission of an acknowledgement corresponding to the previous access request;
• comparing the observed information identifying the requestor to the stored information identifying previous requestors;
• and
• when the comparison reveals that the requestor has submitted a previous access request that has timed out prior to submission of an acknowledgement corresponding to the previous access request, denying the access request submitted by the requestor while denying passage of the access request to the first access providing host,
• wherein the networking device is a switch capable of performing load balancing for the first access providing host as well as the other access providing hosts.

A storage medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by a processing device, operate to cause the processing device to perform operations comprising:

• observing, using an intermediary device other than an access providing host that assigns resources responsive to inbound access requests, information identifying a requestor based on receipt of the requestor's submission of an access request to a first access providing host;
• accessing, using the intermediary device, stored information identifying previous requestors, of the first access providing host as well as of other access providing hosts, that are determined to have submitted a previous access request that has timed out prior to submission of an acknowledgement corresponding to the previous access request;
• comparing, using the intermediary device, the observed information identifying the requestor to the stored information identifying previous requestors;
• and
• when the comparison reveals that the requestor has submitted a previous access request that has timed out prior to submission of an acknowledgement corresponding to the previous access request, denying, using the intermediary device, the access request submitted by the requestor while denying passage of the access request to the first access providing host,
• wherein the intermediary device is a switch capable of performing load balancing for the first access providing host as well as the other access providing hosts.

A method of handling connection transactions, the method comprising:

• receiving, at an intermediary device, a connection transaction request from a requestor device that requests access to an access providing host;
• using information identifying requestor devices, of other access providing hosts, that previously submitted a partially-completed connection transaction request to determine whether to block the connection transaction request to the access providing host;
• and
• blocking, at the intermediary device, the connection transaction request in response to a determination to block the connection transaction request,
• wherein the intermediary device is a switch capable of performing load balancing for the access providing host as well as the other access providing hosts.

A networking device comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory encoded with machine readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, operate to cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
• receiving a connection transaction request from a requestor device that requests access to an access providing host;
• using information identifying requestor devices, of other access providing hosts, that previously submitted a partially-completed connection transaction request to determine whether to block the connection transaction request to the access providing host;
• and
• blocking the connection transaction request in response to a determination to block the connection transaction request,
• wherein the networking device is a switch capable of performing load balancing for the access providing host as well as the other access providing hosts.