Load Balancing & Redundancy in the Cloud

Stephen Spector, Cloud Evangelist, Dell | 5/18/2012 | 23 comments

Stephen Spector
In my recent blog on how virtualization is the building block of cloud computing, I was asked a question about how load balancing and redundancy work if a server in the cloud crashes. This is an excellent question -- and a useful one in seeing how cloud suppliers can provide high levels of uptime while running commodity hardware.

A load balancer is a physical device or machine running in the cloud that receives requests from clients to supply a Website or application running in the cloud and must choose a server in the cloud running the requested Website or application. Most clients have multiple virtual machines running on several servers for the load balancer to choose from. Users want to avoid having all the virtual machines running on one server, because they would lose all access should that server crash. The load balancer would look for the server with the least amount of CPU or memory use (settings determined by administrator) and select a VM on that machine to ensure the best performance for the client from a given server.

The image below from Cavemans's blog shows the load balancing concept with the addition of a firewall in front of the load balancer.

A Firewall in Front of a Load Balancer

As for redundancy, you can easily see how a set of virtual machines being load balanced across multiple servers is always available, regardless of the status of a given server. Should one of the servers go down, clients will still have access to the VM. It will be available on other servers and can be started on new servers easily to keep the number of available VMs constant.

A good, simple overview of load balancing in the cloud is presented in this four-minute video. The presenters use the term "horizontal scaling" to describe the results of a load balanced set of virtual machines.
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batye   Load Balancing & Redundancy in the Cloud   8/1/2012 8:42:36 AM
Re: Load Balancing
I'm agree with you 110%... :) same in my book's - you are right
DBK   Load Balancing & Redundancy in the Cloud   6/5/2012 12:28:46 PM
Re: what's the bigger benefit
Stephen – those are good drivers for Cloud but I also believe that access to data from various platforms and from anywhere is another.  Using the cloud as a centralized repository is one area that seems to be gaining the most acceptance.  Teams collaborating to develop an end product that is built up from many elements.  A project that I am currently working on uses a Cloud solution.  The architect drops in the CAD files and then we can add in the appropriate layers to the file and upload the modified CAD file.  Once approved the installation teams down load the approved documents and use them to build out the space.  Each is done with permissions and approvals but this is a great way to collaborate.
Stephen Spector   Load Balancing & Redundancy in the Cloud   6/1/2012 10:15:51 AM
Re: what's the bigger benefit
LB is an important featue for cloud but is not a driver for cloud acceptance. The business drivers in terms of scalability, cost savings, meeting customer demand, etc
User Ranking: Blogger
Sara Peters   Load Balancing & Redundancy in the Cloud   5/31/2012 9:42:04 PM
what's the bigger benefit
I've always thought that the superior load balancing capabilities of the cloud (particularly the public cloud) is one of its major selling points. Question for Stephen and the group: is load balancing tempting enough on its own to get an organization to move to the cloud, or are its other potential benefits more important to the to-cloud-or-not-to-cloud decision?
Sara Peters   Load Balancing & Redundancy in the Cloud   5/31/2012 9:35:41 PM
Re: Load Balancing
Aww shucks, guys. You're going to make all of us blush. But we can't argue: you guys rock.

DBK   Load Balancing & Redundancy in the Cloud   5/31/2012 1:41:19 PM
Re: Load Balancing
Ashish - Couldn't have said it better myself.  I am currently listening to the Dell application virtualization webcaste.  and at the same time preparing do to a network assesment that will prepare a site for voice virtualization and data virtualization.
eethtworkz   Load Balancing & Redundancy in the Cloud   5/31/2012 1:06:31 PM
eethtworkz
Re: Load Balancing
DBK,

You need critical Disaster Recovery Tools today.

Our IT Universe depends on it!!!

We cannot understate this critical feature one bit.

No disputing the fact that the E2 Community Rocks!!!

We all learn a lot every single day form each other.

Regards

Ashish.
DBK   Load Balancing & Redundancy in the Cloud   5/31/2012 10:16:56 AM
Re: Load Balancing
Maybe I am missing something but I don't think this is appropriate for this site.  I am all for shameless self promotion, but this seems a little over the top.
geeky   Load Balancing & Redundancy in the Cloud   5/31/2012 8:09:22 AM
Re: Load Balancing
I'm not sure on this can't we integrate another platform for back up purposes ? If so there will be less issues
DBK   Load Balancing & Redundancy in the Cloud   5/29/2012 7:55:56 PM
Re: Load Balancing
Technocrat - I resently hosted a Health Care breifing at Polycom.  Our own Dave Wangner was able to partcipate and he had some great insight.  Nice to be able to share with the group and continue to expand our horizons.
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