Load Balancer Routing Encrypted VPN Traffic Without Decryption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Load balancing of VPN traffic across multiple destination servers in a zero trust network is challenging due to the need to decrypt encrypted data packets, which increases computational workload and security risks.
Innovation Solution
A load balancer is used to distribute VPN traffic across multiple destination servers by utilizing a field in the VPN message header that is accessible without decrypting the encrypted data packets, allowing for load balancing algorithms to select destination servers based on client device preferences or server metrics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the load balancer decrypts encrypted data packets to perform load balancing, then load balancing can be performed on VPN traffic, but computational workload and security risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the destination server identification information from the encrypted data packet by accessing the VPN message header field that contains this information in an unencrypted form. This allows the load balancer to perform load balancing without decrypting the entire data packet, thus reducing computational workload while maintaining load balancing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the VPN message header as an intermediary carrier that contains destination server identification information in an accessible format. This intermediary structure enables the load balancer to make routing decisions without accessing the encrypted payload, resolving the contradiction between load balancing capability and computational complexity.
2Ease of operation
If the load balancer decrypts encrypted data packets to perform load balancing, then load balancing can be performed on VPN traffic, but security risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary routing information (destination server identification) from the VPN message header without decrypting the encrypted data packet payload. This selective extraction approach enables load balancing while maintaining the security and privacy of the actual data transmitted through the VPN.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the data packet into two parts: the VPN message header containing routing information that is accessible for load balancing decisions, and the encrypted payload that remains protected. This segmentation allows load balancing functionality to operate on unencrypted header information while the data integrity and security are preserved in the encrypted portion.
3Productivity
If load balancing algorithms select destination servers based on server metrics, then load distribution is optimized, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a load balancing mechanism where the load balancer autonomously makes routing decisions by accessing destination server identification information from the VPN message header. The system self-adjusts traffic distribution without requiring complex centralized control or manual configuration, optimizing load distribution while keeping the implementation relatively simple.
Data Source
AI summary
In some examples, a load balancer establishes respective secure connections between the load balancer and a plurality of destination servers in a trust network, and performs load balancing of encrypted virtual private network (VPN) traffic across the destination servers. The load balancer receives an encrypted data packet from a client device, the encrypted data packet including a VPN message header having a destination identification field relating to identifying a destination server in the trust network. The load balancer determines whether a selected destination server in the trust network is identified based on a value of the destination identification field in the VPN message header, the selected destination server being one of the plurality of destination servers. Based on determining that the selected destination server is identified based on the value of the destination identification field in the VPN header, the load balancer sends the encrypted data packet to the selected destination server.