Cisco CSS 11000 Series Content Services Switches

Introduction

This document provides information on how to configure advanced-balance ArrowPoint cookies on Cisco Content Services Switches (CSS) 11000 products running WebNS 4.0 or later.

The CSS allows you to use cookies or URL strings to stick to a particular server. In the past, this has required the Web hosters to modify their applications to set particular cookies or strings in the URL. In WebNS 4.0, the CSS is capable of generating cookies so that Web applications do not need to be modified.

Before You Begin

Conventions

For more information on document conventions, see the Cisco Technical Tips Conventions.

Prerequisites

There are no specific requirements for this document.

Components Used

The information in this document is based on all CSS 11000 and CSS 11500 switches and WebNS Software Release 4.0 or later.

Note: Cisco CSS 11000 are end of life products replaced by CSS 11500.

Description

When a client makes a request that matches a content rule that is configured to use the ArrowPoint cookie, the CSS sets a cookie and redirects the client's request back to the site by using meta-tags. Each service has a unique string configured to use for matching a client's requests to a particular server that is included in the ArrowPoint cookie. If no string is configured for each service, the CSS defaults to the IP address of the service.

While this document offers a specific configuration, for further, more general details, refer to How ArrowPoint Cookies Function on the CSS 11000 Series In 4.x Code.

Configuration

1. Configure the string on each service that are part of the content rule that sets ArrowPoint cookies.

   cs150(config)# service cookie_server1
   cs150 (config-service[cookie_server1])# string 10.10.10.10
   

2. Configure the content rule to use the advanced-balance method of ArrowPoint cookie.

   cs150(config-owner-content[e-commerce-stickysite])# advanced-balance arrowpoint-cookie
   

3. Configure the ArrowPoint cookie path (optional).

   By issuing the arrowpoint-cookie path command, you can set the ArrowPoint cookie path to a configured path. If you do not issue this command, the CSS sets the default path attribute to the cookie to "/".

   cs150(config-owner-content[e-commerce-stickysite])# arrowpoint-cookie path "/foo"
   

4. Configure the ArrowPoint cookie expiration (optional).

   If no expiration time is set, the cookie only lasts for the life of the browser. Once the browser is closed on the client, the cookie is removed. When the client reopens the browser, the next time they go to the site, the whole process of injecting the cookie must happen again.

   For customers that want to manually set an expiration date, this can be configured on the content rule by issuing this command:

   arrowpoint-cookie expiration dd:hh:mm:ss
   

   This lists explains the command parameters:

   • dd = number of days

   • hh = number of hours

   • mm = number of minutes

   • ss = number of seconds

   All of these variables have valid numbers from 00 to 99.

   This is sample command output:

   cs150(config-owner-content[e-commerce-stickysite])# arrowpoint-cookie expiration 07:12:00:00
   

5. In WebNS 6.10 and 7.30, you can also configure a name for the ArrowPoint cookie. This name is four characters long.

   cs150(config-owner-content[e-commerce-stickysite])# arrowpoint-cookie name NAME
   
   

   You can find more information about this option in the 6.10 or 7.30 command reference guides.

   This is sample command output:

   Service A
        IP address 4.4.4.4
        String redsox
        Active
   
   Owner Boston
        Content Nomar
         VIP address x.x.x.x
          Protocol TCP
          Port 80
          URL "/*"
           advanced-balance arrowpoint-cookie 
             arrowpoint-cookie browser-expire 
           arrowpoint-cookie expiration 01:01:01:01 
           arrowpoint-cookie expire-services 
           arrowpoint-cookie path "/foldername" 
          Active
   

WebNS Commands

This section provides ArrowPoint cookie command options that can be used with WebNS.

Related Information

• How ArrowPoint Cookies Function on the CSS 11000 Series In 4.x Code
• CSS 11500 Series Content Services Switches Product Support
• CSS 11000 Series Content Services Switches Product Support Page
• CSS 11500 Series Content Services Switches Technical Documentation
• Cisco WebNS CSS 11000 Software Downloads
• Cisco WebNS CSS 11500 Software Downloads
• Technical Support - Cisco Systems