الفهرس 
IntroductionOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Internetworking devices differ in their types. Where each type operates at different OSI layer. Even within the same type, there is a variety of devices which differs in how they perform their functions.
The content-based switch operates at layer 7 of the OSI model. It is usually placed in front of a set of servers (clustered servers). Each of. these servers is optimized to respond to a specific type of request e.g. one of them is optimized to respond to dynamic content requests, one is optimized to respond to static content requests, one is optimized to respond to multi media requests and so on. The main function of that switch is to analyze the incoming requests and select the most appropriate server, from the back-end servers (clustered servers), that can respond to that incoming request. Then it establishes a connection with the client and with the selected server to provide the requested data and start to relay the data between the client and the server.
In this thesis, we describe a modified protocol to the content-based switches. The currently used protocol does not enable the two peers that are involved in a . connection, to negotiate the TCP options. At most, the two peers can negotiate the TCP options that the switch supports. This limitation prevents the two peers from using their full capabilities. Therefore, we modify the current protocol to enable the two peers to negotiate the TCP options.
We consider the maximum segment size option (MSS) as an example to the TCP options that can be negotiated.
These modifications result in a good enhancement on the time needed to send data between the two peers over the connection.
We have used NS-2 as a simulation tool to test the modified protocol and compare it with the current used protocol.