Encrypted Session ID Routing for Server Farm Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems face challenges in securely routing client requests across multiple servers in a server farm while maintaining session information, as they often expose internal server farm configurations, leading to security risks and administrative burdens.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an upstream device, such as a load balancer or router, that uses encrypted network addresses or unique IDs to securely route requests within the server farm, dynamically generating or selecting these IDs to ensure secure sticky routing without revealing internal configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If server addresses or internal configuration details are exposed to clients for routing purposes, then routing functionality is enabled, but security risks increase due to information disclosure about internal server farm arrangements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary encoding mechanism that translates internal server addresses into encrypted session IDs. This intermediary layer enables routing functionality while preventing direct exposure of internal server farm configuration to clients, thus resolving the contradiction between operational ease and security.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates encrypted copies of server address information within session IDs. Instead of exposing actual server addresses, the system generates encoded representations that contain routing information but reveal no sensitive internal configuration details to clients.
2Reliability
If load balancers maintain mapping of session IDs to servers for sticky routing, then session persistence is achieved, but administrative burden increases due to configuration and maintenance requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling upstream devices to automatically generate and manage unique encrypted identifiers without requiring external configuration or maintenance. The system autonomously handles the creation and distribution of encryption keys and session identifiers, eliminating administrative overhead while maintaining session persistence.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring upstream devices with encryption capabilities and automatic identifier generation mechanisms. This advance preparation eliminates the need for ongoing administrative configuration and maintenance of session mappings.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If encrypted network addresses or unique IDs are used for routing, then security is enhanced by hiding internal configurations, but device complexity increases due to encryption and decryption operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial encryption by encrypting only the critical routing portions of server addresses within session IDs, rather than encrypting entire address structures. This selective approach provides sufficient security while minimizing the computational overhead and complexity of encryption operations.
Data Source
AI summary
Upstream devices, such as load balancers or routers, within a server farm, may be configured to route requests to the servers handling sessions for those requests using a secure (e.g. encrypted) unique ID or network address received with requests identifying how requests may be routed through the server farm. Upstream devices or a server receiving a request that is not associated with a session may generate a unique ID or select a network address identifying how the request is routed through the server farm. The server handling the request forms a session ID and returns that session ID and the unique ID to the client that originated the request. Encryption may be performed on network addresses or session IDs. Upon receiving a request corresponding to an established session, an upstream device may then decrypt routing information from the encrypted unique ID or network address and send the request downstream accordingly.