Load distribution architecture for processing tunnelled internet protocol traffic

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a technique of redirecting Ethernet based tunnelled Internet Protocol ('IP') traffic in an IP communications network, wherein the Ethernet based tunnelled IP traffic is transmitted from a first network nodeto a second network nodeof the IP communications network. A method embodiment comprises the steps of: receiving, by a devicefor redirecting the Ethernet based tunnelled IP traffic, an Ethernet based tunnelled IP packet transmitted from the first network node, the Ethernet based tunnelled IP packet including a header and a payload, the header containing a destination Ethernet address and the payload containing an inner user IP header of an inner user IP packet; modifying, by the devicethe destination Ethernet address contained in the header of the Ethernet based tunnelled IP packet on the basis of the inner user IP header; and selecting, by the device, a Processing Unit ('PU')for traffic analysis from a plurality of PUsOz for redirecting the Ethernet based tunnelled IP packet to the selected PUin accordance with the modified destination Ethernet address.