In a networked data system, a discovery protocol enables clients to establish connections to one a plurality of database servers to utilize a distributed connection service. The service manages connections between application servers, i.e. clients, and databases. An initial request from the client is received by a load balancer. The load balancer responds to the client by identifying an assigned connection to one of the database servers based on load considerations. The client sends a secondary request directly to the assigned connection, bypassing the load balancer. The service establishes a persistent link on the assigned connection and assigns a time-to-live (TTL), during which the service connects data requests to the databases. Upon expiration of the TTL, the service completes a next data request received, then notifies the client that the connection is no longer valid, thereby requiring a new connection through the load balancer and rebalancing system traffic.