FortiWeb, functioning as an Application Delivery Controller (ADC), supports Layer 7 load balancing and routing. The specific feature for this is called HTTP Content Routing. This allows FortiWeb to inspect incoming HTTP requests and route them to different back-end server pools based on the content of the request. The routing decisions can be based on various Layer 7 attributes, such as the HTTP Host header, the request URL, or cookies. This capability is essential for directing traffic in complex application environments, such as routing requests for /images to an image server pool and requests for /api to an application server pool.

A. URL policy routing: While routing based on a URL is a component of HTTP content routing, "HTTP content routing" is the official and more comprehensive feature name in FortiWeb, encompassing more than just URLs.

B. OSPF: Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) is a Layer 3 (Network Layer) dynamic routing protocol used to exchange routing information within an autonomous system, which is not a function of a Web Application Firewall.

C. BGP: Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) is a Layer 3 (Network Layer) exterior gateway protocol used for routing between different autonomous systems on the internet, not for application-level traffic distribution.

1. FortiWeb Administration Guide 7.0.0

Page 389

Section: "Configuring HTTP content routing".

The document states

"You can configure HTTP content routing to route requests to a specific server pool based on characteristics of the HTTP request

such as the host

URL

or source IP address." This directly confirms support for HTTP content routing.

2. FortiWeb Administration Guide 7.2.0

Page 434

Section: "HTTP content routing".

This guide reiterates the functionality: "HTTP content routing rules allow you to route requests to a specific server pool based on the characteristics of the HTTP request... FortiWeb evaluates the rules in order from top to bottom and applies the first rule that matches."

3. FortiWeb Administration Guide 7.0.0

Page 118

Section: "Configuring network routing".

This section details the configuration of static routes and policy routes. It makes no mention of dynamic routing protocols like OSPF or BGP

confirming that FortiWeb does not operate as a Layer 3 dynamic router.