Load balanced access to distributed endpoints using global network addresses and connection-oriented communication session handoff

Abstract

Systems and methods are described to enable the load-balanced use of globalized network addresses, addressable throughout a network to access a network-accessible service. A set of global access points are provided, which advertise availability of the globalized network addresses. The access points enable rapid use of connection-oriented communication sessions by conducting an initialization phase of the sessions locally on the access point. Session context information is then handed off to an endpoint for the service, which can provide the service through the already-established sessions. To avoid breaking sessions due to changes in network routing, each access point can apply a uniform selection criteria for endpoints, such that if client traffic is routed to a different access point, that access point redirects the traffic to the same endpoint previously servicing the traffic via an established session.