By Joe Paone S erver load balancing is one of those core networking functions that, like many others, can be implemented in a rudimentary fashion, or enhanced to include a range of core and complementary functions and features. Unfortunately, the average small business is faced with some difficult decisions when it comes to load balancing. A business must decide whether it should overpay for a Web server switch with excess capacity, or save money and buy software that could prove complex and difficult to operate and maintain. In essence, load balancing is the process of distributing traffic among redundant servers so that no single server is overwhelmed with requests from network clients and other devices. These products and techniques are used to make sure that applications still run if a server goes down or is too busy, by implementing a pair or cluster of servers that share the workload.
Load balancing is especially vital for key Web servers and application servers.
However, the products to accomplish this goal can range from relatively inexpensive software to expensive multilayer hardware switches. Valerie O'Connell, managing director, enterprise management with the Aberdeen Group Inc., a consultancy in Boston, MA, says regardless of price or how the load balancing product is packaged, there are worthy products across the board. Still, there are inherent attributes of both the hardware and software load-balancing products that are apparent, says O'Connell. The advantages of software are flexibility, customization, scalability and the ability to really fine-tune on the fly to business requirements. Both methods are valid, O'Connell says, depending on the type of business and its requirements.