Understanding F5 persistency / cookies

Hi all,

 

I am sorry if I sound stupid but I am completely new to this domain of persistency/session stickiness and cookie.

 

I have read several f5 whitepaper on the above including the one below https://f5.com/resources/white-papers/cookies-sessions-and-persistence

 

But i would like to just go a little bit deeper. Thus please kindly correct and forgive me if my understanding is wrong...

 

Basic Setup

 

[Client] <----> [F5] <----> [Webserver (1,2,3)]

 

1) My understanding is that during 1st request from a client, (assume the request is load balance to Webserver1), WS1 will generate a new application/session cookie and send it back.

 

2) When F5 receive this cookie from WS1, does it

 

a) amends the cookie's content (e.g. maybe add-in information to route back to WS1 should it receive this cookie again)

 

or

 

b) it generates a completely new cookie and send it to the client ? -- if this is the case, what happen to the current cookie send by WS1 ?

 

Can some guru point me in the direction whereby more of such details are documented ?

 

Thank you!