Distribute traffic effectively. Deep dive into L4 vs L7 balancing, Round Robin, Least Connections, and Consistent Hashing algorithms.
Scalability relies on spreading the load. This course explores the mathematics and logic behind load balancing. You will learn the difference between Layer 4 (Transport) and Layer 7 (Application) balancing. We implement various algorithms: Round Robin for simple distribution, Least Connections for varying request times, and IP Hash for session stickiness. We also cover Consistent Hashing for distributed caches and the importance of active vs passive Health Checks.
Estimated completion time: 21 lessons • Self-paced learning • Lifetime access
Cloud LBs (AWS ALB) use these algorithms internally.
Mostly configuration and algorithmic theory.
Understanding hashing and probability is helpful.
Concepts apply to HAProxy, Nginx, and F5.