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Server load balancing, Overview, A server load balancing configuration – D-Link DFL-2500 User Manual

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10.3. Server Load Balancing

10.3.1. Overview

The Server Load Balancing (SLB) feature in NetDefendOS is a powerful tool that can improve the
following aspects of network applications:

Performance

Scalability

Reliability

Ease of administration

SLB allows network service demands to be shared among multiple servers. This improves both the
performance and the scalability applications by allowing a cluster of multiple servers (sometimes
called a "server farm") to handle many more requests than a single server. The image below
illustrates a typical SLB scenario, with Internet access to applications being controlled by a D-Link
Firewall. The SLB feature is available on the D-Link DFL-800 / 1600 / 2500 only.

Figure 10.5. A Server Load Balancing configuration

Besides improving performance, SLB increases the reliability of network applications by actively
monitoring the servers sharing the load. SLB can detect when a server fails or becomes congested
and will not direct any further requests to that server until it recovers or has less load.

10.3. Server Load Balancing

Chapter 10. Traffic Management

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