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.