Traffic optimization over network link

1. A method comprising:

receiving a TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) packet at a service device configured to optimize traffic over a network link;

inserting a discovery identifier in said TCP packet;

encapsulating said TCP packet in a UDP (User Datagram Protocol) packet; and

transmitting said UDP packet over the network link;

wherein said TCP packet comprises a TCP synchronize packet and further comprising receiving a TCP synchronize-acknowledgement packet encapsulated in a UDP packet at the service device and transmitting optimized traffic over the network link.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising creating a UDP tunnel between the service device and another service device located at a remote end of the network link and wherein transmitting said UDP packet comprises transmitting said UDP packet in a discovery process performed between the service devices.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein inserting a discovery identifier comprises inserting a discovery option in a TCP options field in said TCP packet.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the service device comprises a wide area application services device.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the network link comprises a satellite link.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein transmitting optimized traffic comprises transmitting UDP encapsulated TCP packets over the network link.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein transmitting optimized traffic comprises transmitting TCP packets over the network link.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a port unreachable message and transmitting traffic without optimizing said traffic.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a processor for receiving a TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) packet, inserting a discovery identifier in said TCP packet, encapsulating said TCP packet in a UDP (User Datagram Protocol) packet, and transmitting said UDP packet over a network link; and

a traffic optimizer for optimizing traffic on the network link;

wherein said TCP packet comprises a TCP synchronize packet and the processor is configured for receiving a TCP synchronize-acknowledgement packet encapsulated in a UDP packet and transmitting optimized traffic over the network link.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the traffic optimizer comprises a wide area application engine.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the processor is configured to create a UDP tunnel between the apparatus and a service device at a remote end of the network link, wherein said UDP packet is transmitted in a discovery process performed between the apparatus and the service device.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the discovery identifier is configured for insertion in a TCP options field in said TCP packet.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the apparatus comprises a wide area application services device.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the network link is a satellite link.

15. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein transmitting optimized traffic comprises transmitting UDP encapsulated TCP packets over the network link.

16. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein transmitting optimized traffic comprises transmitting TCP packets over the network link.

17. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the processor is configured for receiving a port unreachable message and transmitting traffic without optimizing said traffic.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with logic, the logic when executed operable to:

insert a discovery identifier in a received TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) packet;

encapsulate said TCP packet in a UDP (User Datagram Protocol) packet;

transmit said UDP packet over a network link; and

optimize traffic for transmittal over the network link;

wherein said TCP packet comprises a TCP synchronize packet and further comprising logic operable to receive a TCP synchronize-acknowledgement packet encapsulated in a UDP packet and transmit optimized traffic over the network link.