A method for managing an application delivery controller (ADC) cluster operable in a software defined networking (SDN)-based network and including a plurality of ADC virtual appliances (VAs). The method comprises creating, by a central controller, a hash table including a plurality of buckets allocated to active VAs out of the plurality of VAs, each bucket is assigned to a range of a source internet protocol (IP) addresses of a client; and programming by the central controller at least one ingress network element connected to the ADC cluster and receive incoming traffic from clients to perform a balanced incoming traffic distribution among the plurality of VAs, wherein the traffic distribution is based in part on the allocation of the buckets to the plurality of VAs and the SIP addresses of the clients originating the incoming traffic. The plurality of VAs are virtual ADC instances operable i the plurality of physical devices.