Have you ever been in the situation where you attempted to do too many things at the same time, and you knew that you could not? Websites experience the same sort of issue when they get large amounts of traffic all at once. This is where a cloud load balancer is useful.
The first time I used one was when a website that I own relative to other websites is small, but unexpectedly received traffic. Therefore, I thought my server would crash. However, the load balancer allowed everything to run without issue. Let me explain what exactly a load balancer does, as well as the benefits of utilizing one.
There are two major types:
• Layer 4 Load Balancers: They process traffic only based on IP address and port. They are fast, but they don’t understand the content of the website.
• Layer 7 Load Balancers: They can make a decision about where to send traffic based on a user’s URL, cookies, or HTTP headers. I like these for larger sites because they give you more control.
Have you ever been on a website that slows down as more people come onto the site? A load balancer directs traffic evenly between the servers, which allows them to operate more comfortably. Users experience a faster and more enjoyable website experience.
2. Keep Your Site Online
Servers go down. It happens. When using a load balancer, you never have to worry. It just quickly detects the unhealthy server and sends the traffic to the healthy servers, so your site stays online even when one or more servers are down.
3. Ease of Scalability
When your site grows, it’s easy to add servers to your load balancer. You get to avoid the stress of downtime or dealing with the complexity of adding servers.
4. Improved Security
Certain load balancers include security features which might include SSL and attacks protection. I recall when a bot attack targeted my website and the load balancer took care of it very quickly.
5. Reduces Cost
A load balancer allows for servers to be utilized at maximum capacity. You aren't paying for servers that are sitting idly, and the website continues to function adequately.
Have you used one? They are simple and it's gratifying to see the traffic flow smoothly and cleanly.
The first time I used one was when a website that I own relative to other websites is small, but unexpectedly received traffic. Therefore, I thought my server would crash. However, the load balancer allowed everything to run without issue. Let me explain what exactly a load balancer does, as well as the benefits of utilizing one.
What is a Cloud Load Balancer?
A cloud load balancer functions as traffic management for your website. It will take your incoming visitors and distribute them over multiple servers so individual server’s are not overstressed. This will help your website respond faster and have a better experience for multiple visitors as the traffic loads increase.There are two major types:
• Layer 4 Load Balancers: They process traffic only based on IP address and port. They are fast, but they don’t understand the content of the website.
• Layer 7 Load Balancers: They can make a decision about where to send traffic based on a user’s URL, cookies, or HTTP headers. I like these for larger sites because they give you more control.
Benefits of a Cloud Load Balancer
1. Improve Your Website SpeedHave you ever been on a website that slows down as more people come onto the site? A load balancer directs traffic evenly between the servers, which allows them to operate more comfortably. Users experience a faster and more enjoyable website experience.
2. Keep Your Site Online
Servers go down. It happens. When using a load balancer, you never have to worry. It just quickly detects the unhealthy server and sends the traffic to the healthy servers, so your site stays online even when one or more servers are down.
3. Ease of Scalability
When your site grows, it’s easy to add servers to your load balancer. You get to avoid the stress of downtime or dealing with the complexity of adding servers.
4. Improved Security
Certain load balancers include security features which might include SSL and attacks protection. I recall when a bot attack targeted my website and the load balancer took care of it very quickly.
5. Reduces Cost
A load balancer allows for servers to be utilized at maximum capacity. You aren't paying for servers that are sitting idly, and the website continues to function adequately.
Conclusion
Should you use a cloud load balancer? Yes! It allows for your site to run faster, be more reliable, and it allows you to add more traffic. The next time you are making the internet rounds, you won't have to worry. I have been in that position before and a load balancer saved me.Have you used one? They are simple and it's gratifying to see the traffic flow smoothly and cleanly.