WinHost | Biju Paulose

Windows Server 2008: Network Load Balancing (NLB)

msblogs — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 13:02:16 +0000

As the name implies, Network Load Balancing (NLB) is a method for sharing the load on a hosted server. It is implemented by configuring a pool of machines so they take turns responding to requests. It is the technique used to configure web farms. In fact, you can use it on any scenarios where you have TCP/IP traffic that has become too much load for a single machine, but you still want it to appear as a single machine for access purposes.

How load balancing work on Windows Server?

The first step is to configure/install NLB on a server. Use the following links for detailed reference:

1. Cluster Creation Process

2. How to create NLB Cluster [WindowsITPro article]

Next you add two or more machines to a NLB Cluster. The machines are configured with 2 IP addresses: their own private unique one, and a second one that is shared by all the machines in the cluster. The machines all run an algorithm that determines whose turn is next at responding to requests. They also exchange heartbeats with one another, so they all know if one server goes down and won’t allocate any more requests to him. You can have up to 32 machines in a cluster.

Advantages

The Network Load Balancing (NLB) service enhances the availability and scalability of Internet server applications such as those used on Web, FTP, firewall, proxy, VPN, and other mission-critical servers. A single computer running Windows can provide a limited level of server reliability and scalable performance. However, by combining the resources of two or more computers running one of the products in the Windows Server 2003 family into a single cluster, Network Load Balancing can deliver the reliability and performance that Web servers and other mission-critical servers need.

· For detailed reading on the cluster server configuration, check out the resource mentioned in my earlier blog – Cluster Server Basics

Reference: Technet and MSDN

Microsoft ISA Server 2006

msblogs — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:01:43 +0000

Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server

Hosting considerations of all enterprises would definitely include the thoughts about how to expose the hosted system from internet and intranet world. There are numerous solutions available in the market. Let me talk about one such solution from Microsoft – ISA Server.

ISA Server 2006 is an integrated edge security gateway that helps protect IT environments from Internet-based threats while providing users fast and secure remote access to applications and data.

Microsoft ISA server can provide value in the following scenarios

1. Securely Publish Content for Remote Access

2. Connect and Secure Branch Offices

3. Defend Against External and Internal Web-Based Threats

For more reading follow this link

Windows Server Clustering

msblogs — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 17:10:13 +0000

This technet resource (click here) is good place for beginners to understand the basics of windows server clustering. It covers the clustering architecture and explains how this configuration works to provide availability, failover, scalability etc.

Happy reading !

Hello Hosting!

msblogs — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 16:16:13 +0000

First blog coming soon…