Notes from MS Learn AZ-700 Module 4: Load balance non-HTTP(S) traffic in Azure – Unit 2: Explore Load Balancing
Load balancing is even distro of workloads (inbound traffic) across multiple backend resources/servers. Intended to optimize use, maximize throughput, minimize response time, avoid overloading. Low-key improve availability by sharing workload
- Load Balancing Option for Azure
- Various options available – the primary are
- Azure Load Balancer
- High-perf, ultra low latency L4 load balance (Rx/Tx) for UDP and TCP.
- Can handle millions of request/s
- Zone-redundant
- Traffic Managers
- DNS based allowing for distribution across global regions
- Slower fail over due to being DNS based with TTL’s and DNS caching
- Azure App Gateway
- Provides app delivery controller (ADC) as a service for various L7 capabilities
- Use to optimize web farm productivity offloading CPU intense SSL term to gateway
- Azure Front Door
- App delivery net providing global load balance and site acceleration for web apps
- L7 capabilities for e.g.
- SSL offload
- Path-based routing
- Fast failover
- Caching
- Etc
- Improves perf and HA for apps
- Azure Load Balancer
- Various options available – the primary are
- Categorizing Load Balancing Services
- Categorize in global vs regional
- Global
- Distribute traffic across regional backends/clouds/hybrid on-prem
- Route user traffic to closet backend
- React to changes in reliability or perf
- Regional
- Distribute withing VNet across VM’s or zonal & zone redundant endpoints in a region
- Global
- HTTP(S) vs non-HTTP(S)
- HTTP(S)
- L7 only accepts HTTP(S) traffic
- Intent for web apps or other HTTP(S) endpoints
- Include features such as SSL offload, web app FW, path-based load balance, session affinity
- Non-HTTP(S)
- Handle non-http(s) traffic recommended for nonweb workloads
- HTTP(S)
- (Table below from MS Learn)
- Categorize in global vs regional
- Choosing a load balancing option for Azure
- Key factors
- Type of traffic
- Is it web app? Public-facing? Private?
- Scope
- Need to load balance VM’s/containers in VNet?
- Load balance across regions? Or both?
- Availability
- What is the SLA
- Cost
- Op cost to manage/maintain service on top of service itself?
- Visit Load balancing pricing MS page for predicting
- Features/Limitations
- Features and benefits provided and limitation per your desired solution
- Visit Load balancer limits MS page
- Type of traffic
- Flow-chart to aid in choice (Pulled from MS Learn site)
-
- Use flowchart as starting point – evaluate app with multiple workloads with each workload independently
- Key factors
- Selecting a load balancing solution by using the Azure Portal
- Azure Load Balancing page in portal has a help me choose option
- Is a Yes/No questionaire
- Also has a Service Comparison and Tutorial tab including training on solutions
- Azure Load Balancing page in portal has a help me choose option