A routing method operative in a content delivery network (CDN) where the CDN
includes
a request routing mechanism for routing clients to subsets of edge servers within
the CDN. According to the routing method, TCP connection data statistics are collected
are edge servers located within a CDN region. The TCP connection data statistics
are collected as connections are established between requesting clients and the
CDN region and requests are serviced by those edge servers. Periodically, e.g.,
daily, the connection data statistics are provdied from the edge servers in a region
back to the request routing mechanism. The TCP connection data statistics are then
used by the request routing mechanism in subsequent routing decisions and, in particular,
in the map generation processes. Thus, for example, the TCP connection data may
be used to determine whether a given quality of service is being obtained by routing
requesting clients to the CDN region. If not, the request routing mechanism generates
a map that directs requesting clients away from the CDN region for a given time
period or until the quality of service improves.