System and method for communicating in a loadbalancing environment

Software for communicating in a loadbalancing environment that is embodied in non-transitory computer readable media and operable to:

• receive, at a loadbalancer, a request packet from a network access server (NAS) requesting loadbalancing among a group of tunneling protocol network servers (TPNSs) distinct from the NAS in order to facilitate a communication session for an end user;
• select a tunneling protocol network server (TPNS) from the group of tunneling protocol network servers distinct from the NAS by the loadbalancer to balance a processing load among the group of tunneling protocol network servers;
• communicate, by the loadbalancer, the request packet to the TPNS;
• receive, at the loadbalancer, a first response packet comprising an identification element associated with the TPNS in response to the request packet, the first response packet establishing a tunnel comprising the NAS, the loadbalancer, and the TPNS that facilitates the communication session;
• and
• communicate, from the loadbalancer, a second response packet to the NAS in response to receiving the first response packet;
• wherein data transfers from the NAS to the TPNS and data transfers from the TPNS to the NAS occurring subsequent to the establishment of the tunnel associated with the communication session are executed without going through the loadbalancer;
• and
• wherein the loadbalancer does not maintain state information regarding the communication session subsequent to the establishment of the tunnel associated with the communication session.

A system for communicating in a loadbalancing environment, comprising:

• a network access server (NAS) operable to send a request packet to request loadbalancing among a group of tunneling protocol network servers (TPNSs) distinct from the NAS in order to facilitate a communication session for an end user;
• a first interface to the NAS;
• a second interface to a group of tunneling protocol network servers;
• and
• a loadbalancer comprising at least one processor operable to:
• receive a request packet from the first interface;
• select a tunneling protocol network server (TPNS) from the group of tunneling protocol network servers distinct from the NAS to balance a processing load among the group of tunneling protocol network servers;
• communicate the request packet to the TPNS through the second interface;
• receive a first response packet through the second interface comprising an identification element associated with the TPNS in response to the request packet, the response packet establishing a tunnel comprising the NAS, the loadbalancer, and the TPNS that facilitates the communication;
• and
• communicate a second response packet to the NAS in response to receiving the first response packet;
• wherein data transfers from the NAS to the TPNS and data transfers from the TPNS to the NAS occurring subsequent to the establishment of the tunnel associated with the communication session are executed without going through the loadbalancer;
• and
• wherein the loadbalancer does not maintain state information regarding the communication session subsequent to the establishment of the tunnel associated with the communication session.

An apparatus for communicating in a loadbalancing environment, comprising:

• a loadbalancer comprising at least one processor operable to:
• receive a request packet from a network access server (NAS) that requests loadbalancing among a group of tunneling protocol network servers (TPNSs) distinct from the NAS in order to facilitate a communication session for an end user;
• select a tunneling protocol network server (TPNS) from the group of tunneling protocol network servers distinct from the NAS to balance a processing load among the group of tunneling protocol network servers;
• communicate the request packet to the TPNS;
• receive a first response packet comprising an identification element associated with the TPNS from the TPNS in response to the request packet, the response packet establishing a tunnel comprising the NAS, the loadbalancer, and the TPNS that facilitates the communication session;
• and
• communicate a second response packet to the NAS in response to receiving the first response packet;
• wherein data transfers from the NAS to the TPNS and data transfers from the TPNS to the NAS occurring subsequent to the establishment of the tunnel associated with the communication session are executed without going through the loadbalancer;
• and
• wherein the loadbalancer does not maintain state information regarding the communication session subsequent to the establishment of the tunnel associated with the communication session.