Packet flow from client to web server
1. The client computer requests a connection from 10.11.101.10 to 172.20.120.130.
2. The default route on the client computer recognizes 10.11.101.100 (the cluster IP address) as the gateway to the external network where the web server is located.
3. The client computer issues an ARP request to 10.11.101.100.
4. The primary unit intercepts the ARP request, and responds with the internal virtual MAC address (MAC_V_int) which corresponds to its IP address of 10.11.101.100.
5. The client’s request packet reaches the primary unit internal interface.
| IP address | MAC address |
Source | 10.11.101.10 | MAC_Client |
Destination | 172.20.120.130 | MAC_V_int |
6. The primary unit processes the packet.
7. The primary unit forwards the packet from its external interface to the web server.
| IP address | MAC address |
Source | 172.20.120.141 | MAC_V_ext |
Destination | 172.20.120.130 | MAC_Server |
8. The primary unit continues to process packets in this way unless a failover occurs.