A system and method of organizing a front-end load balancing function for
implementing an Internet site so the transmission control protocol (TCP)
connections, established between the front-end load balancing function
and end-users, are spread over more than one individual load balancer
(ILB). Each ILB consistently self-asserts a primary ILB owner for each
one of the TCP connections. Hence, each ILB, for each delegated TCP
connection can process each TCP connection on behalf of the load
balancing function while handing off the other TCP connections to the
corresponding ILB owners. Also, each ILB consistently self-asserts a
backup ILB owner for each one of the TCP connections so the designated
back up ILB owner takes over the processing of an ILB owned TCP
connection should the ILB owner become incapable of processing the
delegated TCP connection.